Addressing the Flood Risks Along River Shannon

Following a meeting with Leitrim County Council, the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, Mr. Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran T.D. has complimented Leitrim and all Local Authorities for working with his office and taking a proactive approach to address flood risk in their areas.

The Minister said, “I am delighted to be here in Leitrim today and to meet with Leitrim County Council to discuss arrangements for the advancement of flood relief schemes in the county and the various other initiatives to better manage flood risk on the Shannon.”

“We had a very good meeting and we agreed the way in which the flood relief schemes will be progressed for Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim, Mohill and Dromod. The schemes will be advanced by Leitrim County Council as the lead agency working in collaboration with the OPW,” added the Minister.

According to him, funding of approximately €9 million will be provided by the OPW for the capital cost of the schemes as part of the Government’s investment of €1 billion on flood relief over the next decade under Project Ireland 2040 to support Leitrim County Council in the implementation of the projects.

The Minister also took the opportunity to set out the other co-ordinated initiatives by members of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group, to help to further manage the flood risk for those living and working near the River Shannon. At its meeting on 12th October, the Group was updated on the targeted maintenance activities involving the removal of silt and emergent vegetation and the removal of trees, in three locations.

The Group also agreed to:

• appoint consultants to examine the removal of the pinchpoints resulting in lower summer water levels through the Shannon Callows, to help address the summer flooding in this area while maintaining the appropriate navigation requirements;
• consultants are also being appointed for a study on the cause, degree and rate of restriction downstream of Parteen Weir; and
• pilot again this winter the lowering of lake levels in Lough Allen to help alleviate any significant flooding event that may occur. The Group is also completing an environmental assessment of this pilot to help inform any decision to target a reduction in lake levels.