Concerns raised over delays in clean up of Leitrim river tributary
Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District were told that in stream works are prohibited from September to March.
Work to clean the Lough Rynn tributary is scheduled to take place in March or April of next year.
At Carrick-on-Shannon’s Municipal District meeting, Cllr Maeve Reynolds asked why the work hasn’t been carried out yet, given there was an increase in the overall drainage budget in November 2023.
Cllr Reynolds also inquired when the works will be carried out, and what will be done with the money that was set aside to do it this year.
District engineer Darragh O’Boyle told Cllr Reynolds that Carrick-on-Shannon M.D. conducts work under the Office of Public Works, and prior to Covid, these tasks were typically scheduled for Q4 each year, as this timing was most advantageous for landlords and farmers.
However, Inland Fisheries will no longer allow in-stream works within these salmon and trout rivers from September to March.
The work schedule has been submitted to Inland Fisheries, as they are a key actor in this process, and Carrick-on-Shannon M.D. must consider their regulations.
“I think that it’s extremely disappointing and I know the Mohill community does such good work in the town to clean it up and I think they’ll be very disappointed,” Cllr Reynolds said.
Cllr McGowan and Cllr Farrell supported Cllr Reynolds’ motion.
“In the meantime we have carried out assessment screening on the Rynn and Headford river which costs money and is allocated to consultants who carry out these works,” Mr O’Boyle explained.
“Part of the funding is to pay consultants to carry out these works. We have to do that to make sure every consideration is taken into account on how it can affect the waterways.”
The work is scheduled to begin in March or April 2025, pending permission from landowners to access the property.