The Tánaiste has been accused of taking an indifferent approach to the plight of families and landowners near Lough Funshinagh, Co. Roscommon who are still dealing with the fallout of severe flooding.
Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon/Galway, Claire Kerrane, has raised concern at the Tánaiste’s response to the long-running crisis at Lough Funshinagh, describing his comments to her on the issue as “alarming”.
Last month, a commitment was given from the European Commission to engage with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) regarding the critical flooding issues.
Local farmers and landowners in the area have been disappointed that flooding mitigation cannot be carried out, due to a High Court challenge that was taken against actions on flood relief work.
The proposed works at the centre of the action include the construction and laying of a pipe that would see water from Lough Funshinagh, which is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), pumped into the larger Lough Ree.
Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) had legally challenged the works.
Having raised the issue in the Dáil with the Tánaiste, Deputy Kerrane said: “I raised today the ongoing crisis of rising water levels at Lough Funshinagh with the Tánaiste to ask for action.
“Five houses are under immediate threat, another farmyard has been destroyed, older residents are seeing their life’s work ruined and young couples with high mortgages are unable to let their children out the gate.
“The Tánaiste responded to say water-tables are high, of course, at Lough Funshinagh, they are 69.16 and rising daily.
“He then went on to advise he knew the specifics of the case, yet, then asked me to come up with a remedy that he could go to the minister with.
“The remedy is there, it is being blocked – that is the problem and that has been the problem for a long time. The Tánaiste knows this, the Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture added.
Lough Funshinagh
Deputy Kerrane and her Sinn Féin party colleague, Chris McManus have said that they met with the European Commission director for biodiversity, along with members of the local Flood Crisis Group.
Deputy Kerrane said they were informed that “there is nothing in the Habitats Directive preventing a member state from having emergency legislation in place where livelihoods are at risk”.
“Livelihoods, as well as lives, have been at risk at Lough Funshinagh now for years so it begs the question – what [is] the government waiting for?” she added.
“The crisis at Lough Funshinagh has been allowed to drag on and on while families, farmers and an entire community are left in a disaster zone.”
The Sinn Fein TD said the government now needs to look at emergency action allowable under the Habitats Directive.