IDA Ireland intend to carry out maintenance dredging works to Loughmore Canal, Limerick.
The canal runs for approximately 1.0 kilometres through Loughmore Common Turlough PHNA, a shallow often dry turlough supporting an inland assembly of typically saltmarsh plant species as well as Groenlandia Densa which is a protected species under the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000. The canal is a sealed, raised, artificial drainage channel with connectivity to the turlough.
In April 2022 the National Parks and Wildlife Service issued licence No. FL08/2021 – amended to IDA Ireland permitting IDA to take protected flora, alter or otherwise interfere with the habitat or environment of a species of protected flora.
The project requires Loughmore Canal to be dredged, with the removal of all dredged material to a suitable licensed facility. Prior to the commencement of these works, the removal of the protected plant “Opposite-leaved Pondweed” by the Project Ecologist with the assistance of the contractor shall take place. The exact location and scope of the works is laid out in the tender documents.
Previous Dredging (2018)
Dredging works to Loughmore Canal. Construction of temporary haul road and turning area, site clearance works, preparatory works, removal of vegetation, removal of silt, disposal of vegetation and silt, reinstatement of fields along the temporary haul road.
EPA Licenced Sites in the IDA Park
https://epawebapp.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/rss/P0036-01.xml
https://epawebapp.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/rss/P0224-04.xml
https://epawebapp.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/rss/P0023-03.xml
https://epawebapp.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/rss/P0991-02.xml