Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason dredging has ceased on the river Shannon; if this will recommence; if so, the areas that will be dredged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47512/17]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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In December 2016, the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group took a major decision to develop a plan for strategic maintenance works on the River Shannon to complement the Group’s existing Work Programme.

A sub-committee of the Group was established to examine all of the necessary legal, environmental, technical and other considerations. The sub-committee identified a small number of areas where targeted maintenance would increase the conveyance capacity of the river.

Work has been undertaken at Maddens Island and Muckinish and tree cutting at Shannon Grove is ongoing, in accordance with the environmental consents in place. Any further dredging has been suspended for the time being, in accordance with the consent conditions associated with the environmental window for such works. Further works will continue to be the subject of license applications for the appropriate environmental consents.