Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020. [56742/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the maximum amount of water, without increasing the risk of flooding, has been released through Ardnacrusha and Parteen weirs to date in 2022. [56743/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of pinchpoints in the Shannon Callows area that have been removed to facilitate the natural flow of water in times of flooding. [56744/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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219. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of pinchpoints between Athlone and Meelick that have been removed to date in 2022. [56745/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 to 219, inclusive, together.

The Deputy will be aware that the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established in 2016 by the Government to enhance the ongoing co-operation across the various state agencies involved with the River Shannon.  As a member of this Group, the ESB has provided the OPW with the following information in relation to its operations regarding the release of water through Ardnacrusha and Parteen weirs.

The ESB is continuously monitoring the water levels throughout the Shannon and continues to operate in accordance with its regulations and guidelines for control of the River Shannon.

Heavy rainfall throughout the catchment over the past number of weeks has resulted in increasing water levels in the River Shannon and its tributaries.

Lough Derg is currently in flood (since 3rd November 2022) as defined in ESB’s regulations and guidelines for control of the River Shannon. This means that more water is arriving at Parteen weir than can be discharged via Ardnacrusha Headrace and Powerstation.

The ESB continues to maximise the discharge of water from Lough Derg via Parteen Weir. Discharge at Parteen Weir down the old River Shannon Channel as of Monday 14th November is 135 m3/s.  This is combined with discharge from Ardnacrusha Station which is operating at full throughput operationally possible (approximately 370 m3/s currently).

Discharging more water than current or in advance of inflows arriving would result in lowering water levels in Parteen Basin and the Headrace canal below safe operating limits with the risk of causing stability issues to the Category A Earthen Embankment Dams that form Parteen Basin and the Headrace Canal.  The ESB can only manage the flow of water as it arrives at Parteen Weir from Lough Derg.  All of the water arriving at Parteen weir is discharged either via Ardnacrusha station or down the old Shannon channel. The ESB does not store any water upstream of Parteen weir in the Parteen Basin.

The water flow from Lough Derg to Parteen Basin is restricted by the flow capacity of the outlet channel from Lough Derg at Killaloe. The capacity restriction acts like a bottleneck limiting the discharge from Lough Derg. ESB will continue to maximise the discharge of water from Lough Derg within the Dam Safety constraints.

Predicted water levels and expected discharge amounts based on the latest Met Éireann forecast as well as water levels throughout the three lakes and Ardnacrusha Discharges are available on the ESB’s website to view at: esb.ie/what-we-do/generation-and-trading/hydrometric-information

In relation to the project for the removal of the 'pinch points', a Steering Group has been established to oversee this project.  A brief is currently being finalised for the appointment of a consultant to carry out the initial analysis and design work.  The number and location of ‘pinch points’ to be removed will be confirmed as part of the consultant’s work. The project will be subject to planning consent which will require Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment under the Birds and Habitats Directives.  Further consents may be required under other legislation.  No work can commence in the absence of all appropriate consents.

The Deputy will recall that I committed to undertaking an examination of the legislative landscape including a review of the current regulatory environment underpinning the members of the Shannon Flood Risk State Co-ordination Working Group.

On the recommendation of the Attorney General, the OPW obtained legal services to support the examination of the legislative powers underpinning all of the bodies involved.  The legal analysis has been carried out and the outcome has informed a proposed approach which is currently under consideration.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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220. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made on the creation of a single authority to control the flow of water in the River Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56097/22]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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221. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the work that has been undertaken to reduce the level of water in the three main lakes on the River Shannon to prevent winter flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56098/22]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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222. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made on the removal of pinch points in the Shannon callows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56099/22]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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223. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the involvement that the OPW has had with ESB, Waterways Ireland and the various local authorities along the river Shannon to prevent winter flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56100/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 223, inclusive, together.

The Deputy will be aware that the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established in 2016 by the Government to enhance the ongoing co-operation across the various state agencies involved with the River Shannon. The Group recently met in Athlone on 20^thOctober 2022. At that meeting, the Group discussed a range of issues relating to work underway to assist with flood risk management along the River Shannon including the project for the removal of the pinch points through the Callows region between Athlone and Meelick weir.

Work is advancing to progress this project for the Shannon Callows region. A Steering Group has been established to oversee the project and a brief is currently being finalised for the appointment of a consultant to carry out the initial analysis and design work. Waterways Ireland, on behalf of the Shannon Group, will act as the Contracting Authority for this project.

The ESB, as a member of the Shannon Group, has provided the OPW with the following information in relation to its actions regarding the management of water levels on Lough Allen, Lough Ree and Lough Derg, and the management of water levels at Parteen weir.

The Shannon catchment has experienced high levels of rainfall over the last number of weeks and particularly since late-September. This has resulted in increasing water levels in the River Shannon and its tributaries.

All lakes were at or below the target levels as set out in the ESB’s regulations and guidelines for control of the River Shannon in advance of the aforementioned rainfall which commenced towards the end of September.

Specifically:

a. Lough Allen was below the normal operating band (48.7 – 49.1 mOD Poolbeg) until 4^thOctober 2022.

b. Lough Ree was below the target level for the end of August (37.49 mOD Poolbeg) until 6^thOctober 2022, with all sluices in Athlone closed (due to rising callows levels) on the 17^thOctober 2022.

c. Lough Derg levels were within the normal operating band until increased inflows greater than station throughput caused it to enter flood on Thursday 3^rdNovember 2022.

The capacity available in the lakes by being at or below target levels has now been used up as a result of the rainfall that has fallen on the Shannon catchment since the end of September.

The rate at which the water travels to Ardnacrusha is primarily a result of the natural topography of the river and the natural restrictions in the river. It takes many days for water to travel down the Shannon. All of the water arriving at Parteen weir is discharged either via Ardnacrusha station or down the old Shannon channel. The ESB does not store any water upstream of Parteen weir in the Parteen Basin.

In a flood situation, (Lough Derg is currently in flood since last week), the ESB discharges the most amount of water operationally possible through Ardnacrusha station via the Headrace canal away from flood prone areas of the Lower Shannon.

The ESB continues to maximise the discharge of water from Lough Derg via Parteen weir. Discharge at Parteen weir down the old River Shannon Channel as at Thursday, 10^thNovember was 135 m3/s. This is combined with discharge from Ardnacrusha Station which is operating at full throughput operationally possible (approximately 368 m3/s currently).

Discharging more water than the current volume would result in lowering water levels in Parteen Basin and the Headrace canal below safe operating limits with the risk of causing stability issues to the Category A Earthen Embankment Dams that form Parteen Basin and the Headrace canal. The ESB can only manage the flow of water as it arrives at Parteen weir from Lough Derg. The water flow from Lough Derg to Parteen Basin is restricted by the flow capacity of the outlet channel from Lough Derg at Killaloe. The capacity restriction acts like a bottleneck limiting the discharge from Lough Derg. The ESB will continue to maximise the discharge of water from Lough Derg within its Dam Safety constraints.

Predicted water levels and expected discharge amounts based on the latest Met Éireann forecast as well as water levels throughout the three lakes and Ardnacrusha discharges are available on the ESB’s website at: Hydrometric Information (esb.ie).

The Deputy will recall that I committed to undertaking an examination of the legislative landscape including a review of the current regulatory environment underpinning the members of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group.

On the recommendation of the Attorney General, the OPW obtained legal services to support the examination of the legislative powers underpinning all of the bodies involved. The legal analysis has been carried out and the outcome has informed a proposed approach which is currently under consideration.