Works planned at 66 sites to tackle Shannon flooding

Sixty-six locations along the river Shannon will be identified by a top-level State group next month for works to stop future flooding, but no timetable will be offered to worried homeowners.

The Shannon Flood Risk Co-ordination Working group was established after January’s devastating flooding, which wreaked havoc on thousands of homes and businesses along the Shannon.

Nine State agencies, including the Office of Public Works, have been tasked with finding ways of better managing winter water levels on the Shannon.

Some of the works will be directly targeted at protecting vulnerable homes and businesses, though efforts will be made, too, to store flood water high up the Shannon.

OPW chief engineer Mark Adamson said the Government's planned €430 million of anti-flooding spending over the next five years would "certainly make a very good start", although more money will be needed to carry out all the measures in the report.

“A lot of measures need to be put in place. Clearly we can’t do all of them in the space of two or three years.”

Priorities will have to be set, he said. Final plans will be produced by year’s end “when we have a good understanding after the community has given us their feedback”.

Building houses on floodplains must not continue, Mr Adamson went on: “Flooding is a natural phenomenon. The sea level is rising. River flooding could get worse.

“But it will be a constant battle; particularly to make sure we expand communities we develop and plan for further development around the country,” he declared.