To: Mr. P. O’Donovan, Minister OPW
Derek Devaney Private Secretary
1 June 2021
The Save Our Shannon Organisation refer to your correspondence dated 18 April and 4 May
2021.
We note your comments regarding The Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and
Management Study “which identified possible benefits of removing ‘pinch points’ or
‘constrictions’ through the Callows region between Athlone and Meelick Weir”.
We also note your comments regarding the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-Ordination
Working Group assessment stating that “some agricultural benefits could be gained for
adjoining lands if a number of constrictions in the area assessed were removed”.
We also note this Group agreed to a “strategic programme of maintenance activities” … “that
can delay flooding”. It is clear to us that agreement on both pinch points and maintenance
work is agreed by both parties.
Yet, none of this has been done. There is no removal of pinch points/constrictions.
There is no planned maintenance indicated from your correspondence and we see no
indication of any plans to progress the suggested interventions.
The remainder of your correspondence relates to the controls imposed by the ESB. From this
correspondence it is very obvious who controls the River Shannon. Certainly, your input, as
Minister for OPW and Flooding seems insignificant.
The following points must be answered, with clarity, by you Minister:
1. Have you set a date for the removal of the “pinch points/constrictions”?
2. The ESB raised the water level in Lough Rea in 1972 by 24 inches without
consultation. This was given statutory effect in 1979. This man-made intervention
has a detrimental effect on people, their livelihood, eco-system and wild life. You are
well aware of this. For this reason we want this act rescinded now.
3. We want one agency to have control of the Shannon. Have you considered this at all?
4. Our group want the level in all three lakes, Lough Allen, Lough Ree and Lough Derg,
to be reduced by 1 metre.
5. We know there is €7 million available for the removal of pinch points/constrictions to
the flow of water in the Shannon Callows since 2019. We can only contend that there
is lack of goodwill and ineptitude hindering this project.
Finally, Minister, from all your correspondence you have told us about the working of the
ESB and we know this ourselves. It is superfluous and time consuming to keep repeating it.
Now that the Covid19 restrictions are eased I extend an invitation to you to visit us. We will
keep our group to a small number and we can meet outside.
All the best.
(Hon Sec. Save Our Shannon Organisation)