As the situation at Lough Funshinagh in Co. Roscommon gets worse and floods continue, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is seeking a meeting with the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kieran O’Donnell.
IFA Flooding Project Team chair, Brendan Golden said the water level of the Co. Roscommon turlough has reached “crisis point”, with farmland out of commission as a result.
This follows Minister O’Donnell’s visit to Lough Funshinagh last week as he was newly appointed to his ministerial role following the cabinet reshuffle.
O’Donnell spoke with the local residents and farmers to see the effects of the flooding on the local community.
Last week, the committee established to highlight the concerns of local residents gave detail on those in the area evacuating their homes.
Road closures have also begun in the area as the water levels of the lake have continued to rise.
Golden said that the ongoing flooding has taken “a huge toll” on people in the area.
Floods
“Emergency work must be completed as soon as possible as it is posing a massive threat to households and farms,” Golden said
“We recognise that the minister paid a visit within days of taking up his new role, but those living with this are at breaking point. This has to be the minister’s priority,” Golden added.
The IFA Flooding Project Team has also called for a meeting with the minister over flooding of the River Shannon.
The team met to agree the priority areas they will focus on for farmers affected by the flooding.
Golden said that the main priority would be to protect farmers, land, and people’s livelihoods.
He added that measures must be put in place to help alleviate flooding by allowing the water levels to reduce without unnecessary restriction.