Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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78. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding plans to maintain and protect Belmont Weir in west Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43425/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works, (OPW), is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended. Belmont Weir is on the Brosna River which forms part of the Brosna Arterial Drainage Scheme.

The OPW are preparing the necessary environmental assessments and consents in order to proceed with the works which involves the removal of blockages & vegetation from the weir, tree management on the left bank, reduce vegetation on the river banks and rebuild gate entrance. As with works of this nature and given the proximity to the zone of influence of the River Shannon Callows SAC, this is necessary before the OPW can proceed. The environmental reporting requires a seasonal observation window before the constraints and potential mitigation measures can be identified. It is envisaged that this reporting will be completed after the winter of 2024/25. The in-stream season of 2025 (July-Sept) is the next available works window.

To undertake the work safely the OPW must enter the channel; this requires opening the sluice downstream of the weir and reducing the head of water in the Brosna River. The OPW require the right favourable low flow conditions to achieve this. The OPW has consulted with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the owner of the hydroelectric station who controls the sluice; and they are agreeable to facilitating the works.

The OPW have made consistent efforts to progress the works at Belmont Weir for some time now. Landowner consent will be required for access to complete the works and the structure is a protected structure and OPW has engaged with National Monuments Service in this regard.