Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The management of flood risk on the River Shannon is closely intertwined with other uses of the river such as for navigation, dam safety and electricity generation.

The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group was established by the Government in 2016. The Group supports the ongoing co-operation of all State Agencies involved with the River Shannon and works to introduce co-ordinated solutions that may have benefit in managing flood risk on the Shannon Catchment. Meetings of the Group are held bi-annually. The last meeting of the Group was held on 30 April 2025.

The Group produces an annual work programme, which illustrates the extensive work and co-ordination by all the State Agencies involved, to jointly and proactively help address flood risk on the Shannon. The annual work programme encompasses the following work areas: physical works, maintenance, water management, regulatory, policy and planning.

The Group is also currently progressing a number of initiatives including a long-term strategic maintenance programme to prevent deterioration of the River Shannon and short-term targeted maintenance activities. The current work of the Group includes:

• progressing targeted maintenance for 23 identified locations on the River Shannon to enhance the conveyance capacity of the river and halt further deterioration of the channel,
• a study to examine the benefits of removing constrictions, resulting in lower summer water levels, through the Shannon Callows,
• a study to examine the cause, degree and rate of restriction downstream of Parteen Weir in the Lower Shannon,
• trialling the lowering of the lake levels on Lough Allen to help alleviate any significant flooding that may occur.

Further information, including the State Agencies represented on the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working is available on the Group’s website: www.rivershannongroup.ie

The OPW in partnership with Local Authorities is also progressing a programme of flood relief schemes to address flood risk on the River Shannon. There are currently thirteen completed schemes in the Shannon River Basin District and these schemes are already providing protection to over 2,600 properties. A further 26 flood relief schemes are currently being progressed in the Shannon region, three of which are at construction stage. Eleven other schemes are being progressed directly by local authorities. When completed, the schemes will protect 95% of properties identified as being at significant risk from flooding in the Shannon River Basin District. Details of the the flood relief schemes are available here: www.rivershannongroup.ie/flood-relief-schemes/

Outside of the major flood relief schemes, local flooding issues are being addressed by local authorities with support from the OPW under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This scheme provides funding for minor flood mitigation works or studies, costing less than €750,000 each, to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems. To date, the OPW has approved funding of €47m for some 750 projects for the Shannon River Basin District,

The Shannon Callows is a seasonally flooded grassland, which includes two sites designated under European Environmental legislation, the River Shannon Callows SAC and the Middle Shannon Callows SPA. A Steering Group is in place to oversee a project to examine the benefits of removing constrictions (known as pinch points) in the River Shannon through the Shannon Callows to allow for the lowering of water levels in the summer period. The project must comply with European law regarding ecological assessments. An Ecological Consultant was appointed in June 2024 to carry out a high-level environmental study to consider the potential positive and negative ecological impacts of the proposed works on the River Shannon between Athlone and Meelick. A report has now been completed by the consultant and submitted to OPW for review. It is anticipated that the report will be finalised in the near future and this will inform next steps.