Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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249. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if €7 million allocated for the maintenance of the River Shannon and specifically the removal of pinch points and constrictions at the Shannon Callows will issue shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33450/21]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Government has noted the studies by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group that support a programme of strategic maintenance to help mitigate flooding along the Shannon and the removal of ‘pinch points’ in the Shannon Callows that can help to delay flooding in the area. The Government has agreed that the OPW will provide €7m for all of these works, of which €4m relates to the removal of  ‘pinch points’ in the Callows region.

Work is advancing to progress the project for the removal of ‘pinch points’ in the Callows region. A project brief is in preparation for a project consultant to be appointed to identify and manage all of the activities that are necessary to progress through the planning process to enable the commencement of the works. A steering group is in place to oversee the project and it last met on 14 June.

The works can only commence following completion of the appropriate environmental assessments and following receipt of planning permission. This is a time intensive process and there are variables outside the control of the Shannon Group that may impact on the overall timescale for delivery of the project.