It is not possible to create a single authority for the r

iver Shannon, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.

He told Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams it could not be done because statutory authority rested with a number of bodies, including the ESB, the Office of Public Works, the National Parks and Wildlife Service as well as fisheries, tourism, commercial and local authority interests.

“While the proposal may sound wonderful, in public discussion the co-ordination required has thus far proved to be exceptionally difficult,” he said.

“I do not want the Deputy or anyone else to take me up wrong but there was a huge amount of hysteria on the part of our national broadcaster, in particular, for a number of days. It was almost at the point of saying that towns and businesses were closed and to stay away. A relation in Athlone told me that it was necessary for the town to say that it was not closed and that business premises were still open and trading.”

Mr Kenny was responding during Dáil leaders’ questions after Mr Adams appealed for a single authority, as the Shannon continued to flood lands and homes.

Mr Adams said regional drainage boards were abolished and this meant responsibility for cleaning Shannon tributaries “is now left to underfunded local councils, which has resulted in an absence of sustainable draining systems”.

But Mr Kenny said the Government had set out a 10-year strategy. There are 300 locations included in the catchment flood risk assessment and management programme, in respect of which flood defences need to be provided, 66 of which are along the river Shannon.