An agreement to jointly assess the embankments protecting Shannon town and the airport has been agreed according to Minister for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen.
In ongoing discussions and correspondence with the Minister for the OPW and Flood Relief Sean Canney, Minister Breen was informed that the OPW had met with the Shannon Group and Clare County Council and had agreed, in principle, to a co-ordinated and co-funded approach to assess the embankments that protect both town and airport.
“Minister Canney assured me that assessing the risks and identifying a feasible solution to the town’s flooding issues also involved assessing the risk to the area of the airport that is protected by the town’s embankments,” said Minister Breen.
“A flood risk assessment and management plan for Shannon is currently being finalised under the Shannon CFRAM (Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management) Programme and is taking account of the submissions made through the public consultation held last year.
“The proposed option to alleviate flood risk for Shannon Town comprises the construction of new flood defence walls and embankments, the diversion of flow to a natural storage area and new online and offline storage areas. It also involves the replacement of existing culverts and the maintenance of existing coastal defences,” added Minister Breen.
“This process is expected to be completed in the next few months, after which a prioritised list of feasible structural and non-structural measures will be drawn up to address the flood risk in this area. The measures will not only take into account the likely cost, but they will also have to be environmentally sustainable,” said the Clare minister of state.
“The plans will then be submitted to the Minister for Public Enterprise and Reform, and subsequently for adoption by Clare County Council.”
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