Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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251. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the environmental assessment has commenced; the expected completion date; and if planning permission has been sought in respect of the programme of strategic maintenance and the removal of the pinch points in the Shannon Callows developed by the Shannon working group with €7 million funding being provided by the Office of Public Works. [3646/21]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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253. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the frequency with which the Shannon working group will meet in 2021. [3648/21]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 253 together.

In December, 2019, the Government noted that the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group agreed to provide €7m from the OPW Vote to Waterways Ireland to implement a co-ordinated strategic programme of maintenance activities for the River Shannon and for the removal of a number of constrictions in the Callows region. These proposed works can delay flooding and also benefit navigation and agricultural lands.

Waterways Ireland are advancing a range of these measures and expect to commence work on these in 2021. Some of the more complex measures will be subject to the full environmental assessments required and planning consent to proceed. Under the auspices of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group, Waterways Ireland and the OPW are working together on the preparation of the applications for the necessary consents and planning permissions.

The Working Group has met on 14 occasions to date and I have attended its last 2 meetings. The Working Group is due to meet again on 4 March 2021 during which it will discuss its meeting schedule for 2021. I have been meeting with local organisations and communities on the Shannon, including the IFA, ICMSA and local authorities along the Shannon. Over the next number of weeks, I will be meeting with the Environmental Pillar and other stakeholders involved with the Shannon.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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252. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the 25 schemes that have commenced of the 34 new schemes to be delivered for the Shannon area; and the status of the other nine identified schemes which have not yet commenced. [3647/21]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) in 2018 derived from the CFRAM Programme include 34 new flood relief schemes to protect towns in the Shannon catchment area. These are in addition to schemes in 11 towns that are already complete and are providing protection against a 1 in 100 year flood event.

As work has commenced on 25 of the schemes identified in the plans including those at Construction stage and Planning Stage, 80% of the flood relief measures for the Shannon catchment set out in the Flood Risk Management Plans are complete or underway.

The stages of scheme progression are complex and require detailed surveying, technical assessment, modelling and consultation in order to identify a preferred option which complies with the requirements of Environmental and Planning Legislation and meets the required standard of protection. The OPW and the Local Authorities have been engaging pro-actively since the launch of the Plans to advance the implementation of these schemes.

Capital Funding for the delivery of the other schemes identified in the Flood Risk Management has been provided by the Government and will be progressed in Tranche II of the ten year National Development Plan 2018 to 2027.