PLAN TO DREDGE ABBEY RIVER WELCOMED
Issued : Thursday 26 August, 2010
Limerick City Labour T.D. Jan O’Sullivan has welcomed proposals by Waterways Ireland to dredge the Abbey river from Sarsfield Lock to the head of the Park Canal. For many years boating enthusiasts have expressed their concerns regarding the difficulties and safety issues that arise when trying to navigate the Abbey river.
The City navigation scheme which includes the new marina at Arthurs quay has never worked successfully because it is extremely dangerous to pass through sections of the Abbey river. These difficulties have seriously hindered the potential to attract visitors and pleasure boats to our City.
If these navigational issues are resolved the potential benefit for Limerick is huge. The City has over the last number of years made tremendous progress in facing back towards the river Shannon which is one of our greatest natural assets. I understand that an Environmental Impact Study will be carried out prior to any dredging work being undertaken and that tenders have been submitted to Waterways Ireland to carry out the study.
The famous sand cots of the Abbey fisherman are long gone from the river but this new plan will hopefully bring the Abbey back to playing a major role in the life of our City.
Previous Labour ministers namely Brendan Howlin and Micheal D. Higgins allocated the necessary funding for the Limerick Main Drainage and Navigation Schemes and the current proposals to dredge sections of the Abbey river will now ensure that we can develop the river and Abbey area to its full potential.
