The Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief has said there are plans to dredge silt and milled peat from the River Shannon at over a dozen locations in the coming year.
The move is being made in a bid to clear so-called pinch points, despite concerns outlined by environmental groups.
Kevin 'Boxer' Moran was speaking in Co Leitrim where funding of €9m was confirmed in a plan to tackle major flooding issues in the county.
Putting dredging machines into the Shannon to remove silt and other vegetation has always been controversial.
Despite widespread flooding of homes and property in recent years, environmental groups have opposed the practice because of the threat to wildlife habitats.
However, Mr Moran has now started what he describes as "sensitive" maintenance work at seven locations south of Athlone, and has said he intends to seek licences to work on another 14 next year.
This morning, the OPW met councillors in Leitrim where dozens of properties were damaged in 2015.
It said that €9m would go to new flood relief schemes in Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim, Mohill and Dromond next year.
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