“Final proposal” for River Shannon Management Bill expected in early 2024

MINISTER of State at the Office of Public Works (OPW), Patrick O’Donovan, has confirmed to Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan that he aims to bring forward a “final proposal” dealing with issues related to the River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020 early in the new year.

The minister provided the information to Deputy Nolan after she raised the matter as a priority oral question in the Dáil. The independent TD also sought information on the efforts of the OPW to engage with Inland Waterways or the ESB with respect to mitigation measures to address flooding on the Shannon Callows.

Minister O’Donovan also confirmed that a tender will be issued shortly for an Ecological Consultant to carry out a high level environmental study. The study will consider the possible impacts of the excavation of material at key locations in the River Shannon channel, the longer term maintenance of the riverbed and changes in water levels.

“Farmers and landowners need certainty on this matter and that is why I welcome, at long last, some kind of indication about when we will finally see a concrete legislative proposal with respect to a Bill that has been on the government priority list for the last three years,” said Deputy Nolan.

“I understand the issue is complex, and that as the minister has indicated the issues are closely intertwined with other uses of the river such as navigation, dam safety and electricity generation, but the fact remains we need urgent action to prevent ongoing flooding and destruction that comes with it.

“I did also ask the minister what efforts were being made by his party’s MEP’s to address the ecological regulatory constraints that may be slowing this work at the EU level, but for some bizarre reason he seemed to get upset about this and told me I was free to email them. I and my constituents deserved a far more serious reply to that legitimate question,” concluded Deputy Nolan.