Office of Public Works

Wednesday, 27 May 2026

Ceisteanna (63)

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

63. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the extent to which the Office of Public Works is reviewing the environmental and ecological impacts of ongoing maintenance under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945; if his attention has been drawn to the detrimental impact of historical drainage schemes on salmonid spawning habitat, specifically the loss of wetted area and the degradation of riverbed substrate; the timeline for when these schemes will be addressed or modernised to align with the State's obligations under the EU Habitats Directive and the Water Framework Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40408/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

The OPW has a statutory duty to maintain in proper repair and effective condition arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, as amended. Arterial drainage maintenance is an ongoing programme of works of a cyclical nature.

These maintenance works are carried out in accordance with relevant legislation, through a range of environmental assessments, including Strategic Environmental Assessments, Appropriate Assessments and Ecological Assessments, supported by widespread stakeholder consultation. Further information on environmental activities and associated environmental assessments and studies are available on the OPW website, www.opw.ie

To inform its maintenance activities the OPW also works closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including the National Parks and Wildlife Services, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), Local Authorities Water Programme and other interested stakeholders.

The OPW engages closely with IFI on a number of service level agreements aimed at compiling data and experience with a view to improving water and habitat quality within the arterial drainage network of channels. The OPW has developed environmental management processes and specific working procedures that support terrestrial habitats.