Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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158. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform how many times the Shannon Flood Management Group met in 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49969/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group (the Group) was established by the Government in early 2016 and is chaired by the OPW.

Meetings of the Group are held bi-annually and the most recent meeting was held on the 11^thOctober 2023. The previous meeting was held on 26th April 2023. The Group met twice in 2022, on 27^thApril and 20^thOctober. Minutes of the Groups meetings and terms of reference and are available at:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/4d487d-shannon-flood-risk-state-agency-co-ordination-working-group/

The Group provides a forum where all statutory organisations with roles and responsibilities that involve the River Shannon catchment can further monitor and co-ordinate their respective work programmes to assist with managing flood risk along the Shannon catchment.

To add to the overall flood protection from flood relief schemes, the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working Group produces an annual Work Programme that demonstrates the extensive work and co-ordination by all State bodies to jointly and proactively help address flood risk on the Shannon under the following themes of activity: physical works, maintenance, water management, regulatory, policy and planning.

The group is currently progressing a number of collaborative initiatives including developing a long-term strategic maintenance programme for the River Shannon and identifying short-term targeted maintenance activities.