A meeting of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group took place this afternoon.
It was attended by Minister of State Patrick Donovan and the State Agencies involved with the River Shannon and discussions took place on a broad range of areas related to managing flood risk along the river.
The Group was updated on progress on the delivery of flood relief schemes for the Shannon River Basin District (RBD) that will protect properties at risk against a 1 in 100-year flood event.
There are 11 communities in the Shannon RBD that are benefitting from flood relief schemes that are protecting people and properties from the risk of flooding.
A further 38 flood relief schemes in the Shannon area will be delivered under the Government's €1bn investment in flood relief measures over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2018 - 2027.
The Minister said he was "delighted that Flood relief schemes in Ennis and Athlone are now at an advanced stage and it is expected that these will be completed shortly"
The Group finalised and published its Work Programme for 2021 which includes an extensive range of activities by the Group both individually and collectively, to help manage flood risk along the River Shannon.
The Group has a €7m investment programme to implement a co-ordinated strategic programme of maintenance activities for the River Shannon and for the removal of a number of constrictions through the Callows region.
The Minister said Waterways Ireland is advancing these measures and expects to commence work on some of them later this year when the environmental window permits.
Some of the more complex measures will be subject to environmental assessments and planning consent to proceed and work is underway on the preparation of the applications for the necessary consents and planning permissions required".
The Group is continuing to explore and introduce additional flood risk solutions that can be of benefit. it's already introduced a pilot to reduce the lake levels on Lough Allen and targeted maintenance has been undertaken at five locations.
