Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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26. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of essential maintenance works along the River Shannon; and his plans to remove the silt deposits and pinch points along the river downstream of Athlone. [26047/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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In January 2016, the Government took decisive action to support the existing plans in place to address flooding on the Shannon and established the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group to enhance ongoing co-operation of all State agencies involved with the River Shannon. The Group is also adding value to the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, which is the core strategy for addressing the significant flood risks along the River Shannon.

The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group has taken the decision to develop a plan for strategic maintenance works on the River Shannon. This will complement the Group’s Work Programme and the specific measures that are identified for the areas at risk in the Draft Shannon Flood Risk Management Plan. The Group has agreed to the delivery of targeted maintenance activities to be carried out in a range of locations this year in accordance with the permitted seasonal windows for such activities. It has established a sub-committee that is currently considering all of the necessary legal, environmental, technical and other considerations that arise in bringing forward both short term and long term proposals.

In addition to these targeted measures over the coming months, the Group has agreed to some environmental and habitat surveys as a first necessary step to inform a long-term plan of maintenance.

The Group has also endorsed the commencement of a specific project to identify viable flood risk reduction measures in the Shannon Callows. Building on initial assessments undertaken as part of the Shannon CFRAM study, the OPW is leading on the project, in conjunction with Waterways Ireland, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The project is to include more detailed assessment of the possible removal of identified constrictions or "pinch points" upstream of Meelick Weir.