Inland Fisheries Ireland statement re response to flooding crisis

Press statement, Friday, 22nd January 2016

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has a history of working in a positive and proactive manner with Government Departments, State Agencies, Local Authorities and other groups in relation to the drainage and maintenance of surface waters throughout Ireland. In the context of the current emergency, IFI will work with all relevant parties in expediting emergency flood relief works.

Following the recent meeting of relevant State Agencies and Government regarding the Shannon Flooding Crisis, IFI offered, through the office of the Chairman of the City and County Managers Association office (CCMA), emergency assistance on the ground, and brought attention to the Local Authority (Works) Act, 1949, as the legal instrument in which exemptions for emergency in stream works could be progressed.

Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of IFI, stated: “Fisheries legislation provides for a closed season for undertaking instream works. However, in emergency circumstances, such as those currently being experienced, the 1949 Act provides for the relevant Minister to issue an exemption subject to taking precautions and making provisions for the protection of fisheries.”

Following IFI’s communication with the CCMA, Cork County Council immediately made a request to use the provision of the Act to get an exemption from the closed season for instream works from now through to the end of 2017. This request falls beyond the scope of the Act, which only provides for emergency works.

For the last number of years during September, IFI has liaised with Cork County Council, at its request, and facilitated the removal of excess gravel from the Bandon River downstream of the old road bridge in the town to allay fears that these gravels may cause flooding.

IFI will continue to work in a positive and constructive way with Cork County Council on this and other matters. With regard to the Bandon River, while there has been communication with IFI for an exemption under the Works Act, as of today the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources has not received a formal application for an exemption from Cork County Council. IFI anticipate this application in the coming days and will expedite it so as not to delay any emergency works which may have to take place.

IFI look forward to the successful implementation of the upcoming OPW Bandon Main Drainage Scheme. Scheduled to begin in June 2016, the works will see the rock bed of the river lowered by up to two metres in the heart of the town tapering downstream for some 3 to 3.5 kilometres. This Scheme was agreed several years ago and was prepared by the OPW following consultation and consultative reports. The scheme includes provision for a fisheries habitat rehabilitation programme once the design bed levels and flood conveyance capacity are achieved.

ENDS

Further Information:

Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland
Anglesea Street,
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971
Email: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie