Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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353. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps being taken to ensure that an adequate flow of water can get from Lough Mask to Lough Corrib to avoid the type of flooding that took place in the winter of 2015/2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8151/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The intense rainfall of winter 2015/2016 gave rise to the highest flood levels recorded on Lough Mask and Lough Corrib since Hydrometric Records began. Flood levels on Lough Mask reached levels of over 400mm higher than the next highest level recorded in February 2014 and over 600mm higher than December 2006.

I am advised that following this flooding, the Office of Public Works (OPW) carried out heavy woody vegetation management along the Cong Canal (CM1) channel which links Lough Mask with Lough Corrib. At the northern end of channel CM1 there are redundant sluice gates and other eel fishery structures. During the flood it was observed that these structures may also be affecting Lough Mask’s ability to discharge efficiently. OPW regional staff are in the process of securing access such that appropriate alterations can be made to these structures to minimise their contribution to the larger flooding issue between Mask and Corrib, while having regard to any downstream effects.

Proposals are in hand to have the disused walkway structure removed from the existing weir in Cong in early summer (outside of salmon spawning season) and to have some additional selective heavy woody vegetation management carried out at specific locations along the river from Cong Village to Lough Corrib later this year.

Mayo Co. Co. has retained the services of consulting engineers to look at the flooding issues in and around Cong village and in other specific areas of South Mayo. To date they have carried out a preliminary flood study of the Cong area and are currently providing some additional information on a number of Minor Works Applications which were forwarded to OPW in December 2016.

West Region OPW staff have met with Mayo Co. Co. on a number of occasions since Christmas and separately with the consulting engineers. Engineers from my Office have also met with various residents affected by the flooding, consulted with Inland Fisheries Ireland in relation to their salmon hatchery and carried out a number of surveys in the area.