Following nearly two months of negative publicity about the condition of Lough Ree there has been some good news late in the tourist season.
Plans emerged last week for a 32-berth public marina to be built at Ballyleague at the northern inlet of the Shannon.
A planning application has been lodged for the development by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. The project will cost about £1 million.
Preliminary plans for the marina were announced in the Seanad by the Minister, Ms de Valera, early last year.
Her announcement referred to a 16-berth marina but the project has since been upgraded. It is argued that a larger marina will provide better protection for boats.
The work will involve dredging a three-acre section of the lake at Ballyleague and the construction of a fixed breakwater with a 1.4 metre wall which will extend 100 metres from the shore into the lake.
A floating breakwater will run 90 metres along the southern end of the development and there will be a retaining wall with handrailings on the shoreline.
The floating mooring facilities for the cruisers will be erected on guide-poles with access ramps to the shore. The existing slipway will be demolished for the new development.
The planning application provides for the replacement of the slipway and landscaping, public lighting and public seating to be provided on shore.
The plans for the new development will be put on display in the local library and officials from the Department will visit the area to brief locals on the development.
According to reports in the local media, the work will begin as soon as planning permission has been obtained.
Because of increasing traffic on the river, there is a shortage of public berthing facilities during the high season. It is thought the proposal will be approved by the boating and business communities in the area.
Most of the development along the waterway has been privately funded and the move by the Department to provide top-class public facilities is welcome.
It will also help distribute development around the lake. The northern part of Lough Ree has not shared in the spin-off from the development of the cruising facilities on the river.