Wildlife protections during drainage works
O’Hanlon asked whether wildlife and fish protections used on the Northern side would also be applied in Monaghan. The Minister had no details but said the Office of Public Works would take Northern protections into account.
Is the Minister of State aware that on the Six Counties side the authorities have taken special measures to preserve wildlife and fishlife? For example, when they commence the project they will do one bank of the river first and then the other bank of the river and they intend to place weirs at regular intervals. Will the Minister of State ensure that the same will happen on this side of the Border when the project commences?
Comment on this
I have no information on that. But it is expected that work on the first stage of the scheme, that is the Benburb to Caledon portion, will get under way later this year — that would be on the northern side as I understand it — with the works on the Border and other channels North and South to follow immediately afterwards. I am sure that the Office of Public Works will take into account any protection of wildlife being provided on the northern portion but I have no information on that.