The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Flooding Project Team is calling on the government to implement measures to address flooding along the River Shannon.
Chair of the team Brendan Golden said that their main priority “is to protect farmers, their land, and people’s livelihoods and homes along the River Shannon, along with the wildlife and surrounding environment”.
The team is to seek a meeting with Minister Kieran O’Donnell who has been given responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) following this week’s Cabinet reshuffle by Taoiseach Simon Harris.
“The River Shannon must be maintained properly. Measures must be put in place to help alleviate the flooding problem by allowing the water levels to reduce without unnecessary restriction.
“It’s affecting farmers, who suffer major losses, and it also causes disruption for businesses in the flooded areas.
“We need the relevant bodies to engage with IFA to rectify the problems and guarantee the proper maintenance of the River Shannon into the future,” Golden said.
River Shannon
An independent TD previously stated that the initial text of the long-awaited River Shannon Management Agency Bill will be brought forward in April.
Deputy Carol Nolan was was provided an update on the legislation by then Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Patrick O’Donovan around two months’ ago.
The bill has been included in the list of government’s priority legislation every year since 2021.
The proposed legislation seeks to create a single competent authority to coordinate flood risk and management along the river.
Last August, up to 200 farmers protested on a bridge in Banagher, Co. Offaly calling for “proper maintenance” of the River Shannon in their area.
In November, the government launched the €800,000 Shannon Callows Flood Scheme (SCFS) to support farmers who had lost fodder last summer due to severe flooding.
Under the scheme, payments would be made at a rate of €325/ha for farmers affected by fodder loss on a minimum of 1ha and a maximum of 15ha.
However, concerns have been raised that up to 60 farmers in the area were deemed ineligible to apply.