Delay to Lough Funshinagh permanent solution

The application for a permanent solution to flooding at Lough Funshinagh has been delayed, locals were informed today. The delay to submit a planning application could be from six to possibly 12 months.

At a meeting this afternoon in the council, OPW Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran informed residents and local politicians that the planned overflow pipe would be delayed by approximately six to 12 months. It had been hoped that the application for the project would be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála by the end of the year.

The preferred route for the pipe was published earlier this year. The 3km route will bring water in a controlled way from Lough Funshinagh to Lough Ree. The route, which goes from the south end of the lake to Carnagh, is the same as the previous 2021 proposal which was halted after a legal challenge. A temporary pumping solution, which was switched on in March, has a 24 month planning permission.

Minister Moran said it came to the OPW’s attention about four weeks ago that there were environmental constraints in the proposed route for the pipe.

“Once I heard about that, I asked to speak to the locals and the council to update them. I see it as a setback, yes I do, but not one that we can’t get over,” he said. “This is no different to the challenges I face with schemes up and down the country.” He said that there would be a public consultation with residents in the first three months of next year.

“I am very confident that with Roscommon County Council and advice from OPW we will overcome these constraints,” he said. “We know from the past that we have to get these things right. It would be worse if we were standing here today if the planning permission had gone in and been refused.” Minister Moran estimated that the delay could be from six to possibly 12 months.

“We have the interim solution in place until 2027 and I would be confident that we will have it (the permanent solution) in place before then.” He added that the interim scheme pumps were not on as the lake was lower than normal.

“That itself is a huge relief.” Ballagh Cross resident, Padraig Beattie, whose home had been threatened by flooding in the past, expressed some disappointment at the delay.

“It is a bit of a setback. It wasn’t that big a surprise,” he said. “But everything had been going good so the mood is down now.” While the pumps at his home are not currently on, this could change he said.

“It’ll all depend on the rainfall. If we get a lot of rainfall we will have to start pumping again.”