The Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Seán Canney TD, confirmed on Friday that the Shannon Flood Risk Group has decided to carry out “strategic maintenance” on the Shannon.

After the meeting, Minister Canney said that the group had taken the decision to carry out this work. “We must make room for the river,” Canney said.

As recently as September, it was looking unlikely that dredging would be part of the group’s recommendations on dealing with flooding.

The previous month, dredging was deemed to not be economically viable.

Canney added that no definitive plans have been made on how or where the Shannon will be dredged but he confirmed that various interest groups will have to be consulted prior to any work commencing.

“The Shannon Flood Risk Group, which is led by the OPW, considers that maintenance works on the Shannon are essential to halt the deterioration of the river channel. It recognises that the carrying out of strategic maintenance works on the Shannon will be problematic and in bringing forward its plans, the group will be addressing all of the necessary legal, environmental, technical and other considerations that arise.”

Farmer calls

Farmers have long been calling for maintenance work to be carried out along the Shannon. Last winter saw high levels of rainfall which caused devastating flooding on thousands of acres of farm land. Hundreds of acres along the Shannon are still feeling the effects 12 months on from the heavy rainfall.

Are farmers facing another winter of floods?

The Shannon likely to be dredged

Almost a year since dozens of farmers were devastated by flooding, a Government minister has announced his intention to have the River Shannon dredged.