Inspectors 'must consider fish migration plans' when it comes to Shannon's Dublin shift

GREEN Party councillor Sean Hartigan has called for inspectors to take into account fish migration plans for the River Shannon when it decides on plans to pump water into Dublin.

An Coimisiún Pleanála is currently deciding on plans led by Uisce Eireann to shift water 170km east out of Limerick’s river to service the capital.

Now, the Green Party councillor wants to see any decision made by the national planning body take into account plans to improve the range of fish in the River Shannon.

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He believes proceeding with the pipeline plan without integrating these measures risk locking out increases in flow needed for endangered species like European eel, Atlantic salmon and lamprey.

“If we advance the pipeline on the basis of today’s minimum compensation flow alone, we may preclude the future ecological flows that the fish-passage roadmap requires,” warned Cllr Hartigan.

“The science is clear. Restoring fish migration on the Lower Shannon means higher baseline flows in the old river channel, plus seasonal pulse flows for salmon and eels. Any abstraction modelling that doesn’t include these increases gives a false sense of security. We need a joined‑up decision that protects water supply.”