Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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415. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency co-ordination working group held its last meeting; if he will call an emergency meeting of the working group in view of the impending serious flooding in the Shannon catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1654/23]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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416. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline the present discharge rate of water from Lough Derg via Parteen weir; and the corresponding discharge from Ardnacrusha Station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1655/23]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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417. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 223 of 10 November 2022, if he will outline the conclusions drawn from his engagement with the OPW on the outcome of the legal analysis of the current regulatory environment regarding the management of the River Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1656/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 to 417, 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 state agencies involved with the River Shannon. The Group last met in Athlone on 20 October 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.

The water levels on the three lakes are controlled and managed by the ESB. The levels in Lough Derg are managed for the purpose of electricity generation. The ESB does not store water in Lough Allen or Lough Ree for the purposes of electricity generation. The levels in Lough Allen and Lough Ree are managed to assist with navigation levels, to ensure that floods are passed safely and to ensure minimum navigation levels in the river during dry periods. The levels in between the lakes are managed by Waterways Ireland for navigation purposes.

Both the ESB and Waterways Ireland communicate on a daily basis as required to ensure a co-ordinated approach to sluice movements and water level management along the River Shannon.

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

There has been heavy rainfall throughout the catchment recently. This has resulted in increasing water levels in the River Shannon and its tributaries.

Lough Derg is currently in flood as defined in the ESB’s regulations and guidelines for control of the River Shannon.

Discharge at Parteen Weir down the old River Shannon Channel as of Tuesday 17 January is 210 m3/s. This is combined with discharge from Ardnacrusha Station which is operating at full throughput (thereabouts 380m3/s currently). Discharging more water than current would potentially result in lowering water levels in Parteen Basin 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.

While the ESB has an influence on water levels on some parts of the river as mentioned above, it does not control the water level of the River Shannon, nor was the Shannon Scheme designed for that purpose. 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. The ESB is maximising the discharge of water from Lough Derg within the Dam Safety constraints.

With the latest Met Éireann weather forecast it is expected discharge from Parteen Weir may increase further during this week as further water flow arrives to Parteen Weir.

Predicted water levels and expected discharge amounts based on the latest Met Éireann forecast can be found on the ESB’s twice weekly Shannon Forecast available to view at: www.esbhydro.ie/shannon/01-shannon-hydro-forecast.pdf.

An analysis of the legislative landscape and the current regulatory environment regarding the management of the River Shannon was carried out. On the recommendation of the Attorney General, the OPW obtained legal services to support the examination of the legislative powers underpinning the bodies involved with the River Shannon.

The outcome of this legal analysis has informed a proposed approach which was sent to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for his consideration in October 2022.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform responded to the OPW in December 2022 and sought further information which is currently being progressed.