Five Donegal projects are among 103 projects nationwide that will benefit from a €13.6 million Barrier Mitigation Programme announced by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Barrier Mitigation Programme is led by Inland Fisheries Ireland to improve river connectivity by strategically targeting significant barriers to fish passage and structures that are degrading river form, flow and function.

The five local projects are:

R249 DS Weir (Ramelton – Donegal – Leannan)
Owenea Weir (Glenties Donegal – Owenea
Eske Weir
Eske Weir
Crolack Culverts

Welcoming the announcement, Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue, said: “This programme is aimed at restoring the free flow of our rivers by addressing physical barriers such as dams and weirs impacting our waterways.”

“The capital works approved for the 103 projects across the country are expected to improve aquatic ecosystems and support fish populations in our rivers, thereby helping biodiversity. It’s vital that we continue to make efforts to improve the ecological status of our freshwater habitats,” the Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy added.

The capital works approved for the Donegal projects are expected to improve aquatic ecosystems and support fish populations in our rivers, thereby helping biodiversity.

The Government’s 2024 Water Action Plan committed to provide funding for barrier mitigation. A funding call from IFI took place in May 2025 to identify, select, and progress projects to address longitudinal barriers in Irish waterways. The 103 projects now announced meet predetermined ecological and implementation criteria and will proceed through the various project phases over the next 1-5 years.

“This investment into these five local projects will help remove or mitigate barriers to allow fish and other aquatic species to migrate freely. The works will also help promote healthy fish populations and diversity,” Minister McConalogue commented.

Five Donegal projects included in €13.6 million restoration programme was last modified: December 1st, 2025 by Contributor