Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the specific projects planned for 2019 to increase the capacity of the River Shannon; the associated cost of the projects; the expected completion dates for the projects; the impact these projects will have on increasing capacity on the River Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53784/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established by the Government in January 2016 to enhance on-going co-operation across all of the State Agencies involved with the River Shannon.

A sub-committee of the Working Group was subsequently formed to develop, monitor and report on progress of the Group’s work programme and additional measures to reduce flood risk on the Shannon catchment. Since its establishment, the Group has produced and published a work programme for each year to date. The work programme for 2019 is currently being finalised and will be published on the OPW website in Q1, 2019. The programme will include maintenance activities to increase the existing capacity of the River Shannon.

In 2017, the sub-committee identified targeted maintenance activities for seven locations along the River Shannon. Work has been undertaken in three of these locations with further targeted works planned for 2019, during the appropriate seasonal windows. These works relate to the following activities:

- Tree cutting at the New Cut (Illaunacalliagh) (by Mar, 2019)

- Removal of silt and emergent vegetation at Meelick Weir (between May and Sept, 2019)

In addition, further work involving tree cutting is planned at Madden’s Island, downstream of Banagher, during the seasonal window which ends in March, 2019.

It is important to mention that the commencement and completion of all activities are subject to environmental considerations that may apply to the type of activity required at each site, resources available and favourable weather conditions.