Bannon welcomes engagement of OPW on River Shannon issues

Speaking following a meeting of the Committee on Environment, which was attended by representatives from the Office of Public Works, Fine Gael Longford/Westmeath Deputy, James Bannon, welcomed the engagement by officials and their commitment to address the issues of flooding on the River Shannon.

“At the Environment Committee meeting this week, I made a number of recommendations in respect of how best to manage one of our greatest natural resources, the River Shannon. There are a number of issue pertaining not only to the management of the waterway but also to residents who live in close proximity to the river.

“For many local residents who are afflicted by flooding, obtaining insurance is a real problem. Extreme weather conditions have seen the numbers who are exposed to flooding escalating in recent years and while the OPW said that it is not responsible for residents’ insurance requirements, it committed to issuing a letter of assurance regarding to what works are being carried out to alleviate flooding problems.

“A commitment was also given to remove the man-made obstacles that have built up in the river over the years, and to remove the silt from the Shannon, it tributaries and the waters feeding into it. Commitments to prevent further build-up have also been given.

“In my submission, I requested that the sluice gates are opened and that the levels are kept two feet below the weir wall at Athlone. OPW representatives committed to a level of 100mm and while this is short of what was requested, I am happy that we are moving in the right direction.

“Ensuring that the Shannon and the surrounding waterways are well maintained is an essential part of maintaining our heritage and appropriate water levels. With regard to those who are exposed to flooding, it is incumbent on all of us to find the best way of dealing with this problem by way of early flood warning systems, putting emergency management in place and consulting and coordinating with all relevant stakeholders to help chart the best way forward.”

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