Shannon estuary will not be ‘frozen for development’

ARTS, Heritage and Gaeltacht Minister Jimmy Deenihan has said the Shannon estuary will not be “frozen for development” in spite of the estuary being designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds.

The department has proposed that the lower estuary be designed an SPA and it has already come under fire from the Midwest Regional Authority which believes the designation is not warranted “and has the potential to create a significant barrier to the harnessing of the full potential of the Shannon river”.

The ESB’s Moneypoint power station and the Aughinish Alumina refinery are located in the estuary.