OPW minister meets with Lough Funshinagh committee

Members of the Lough Funshinagh Flood Crisis Committee (LFFCC) met with OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan on Thursday February 1st
at the Athlone Springs Hotel.

Officials from the OPW and Roscommon County Council were also in attendance as were local politicians Senator Aisling Dolan, Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice, and Senator Eugene Murphy.

A statement from the committee, which was prepared by Committee Secretary Geraldine Murray, said that Minister O’Donovan “restated his commitment to tackling the problem of flooding at Lough Funshinagh, acknowledging that this is a tragic situation which has gone on for too long”. He reiterated that the crisis in Lough Funshinagh it  very important that a solution be reached. The OPW added that it was working closely with the council and that regular meetings were taking place.

The council provided an overview of what had been done so far, explaining that a consultant for the baseline study had been appointed and seasonal variations on ecology and habitats were being studied, the committee said.

The roads have now been raised as much as possible, the meeting heard. The road to Lisphelim has been closed as this is very close to a major flood. Ballagh will be closed in the next two to three weeks.

Mr Matthew Beattie gave an overview of the human impact of the flooding, with the constant threat to homes and environment. He said that residents lived surrounded by constant pumping, and experience ongoing anxiety and stress. Recently a house almost went under water, which would have had serious consequences and was a near miss. Mr Tom Carney, Ms Marie Martin Carney and Mr Michael Beattie also described the experience of living with the constant threat of flooding. Mr Michael Beattie stated that if Lough Funshinagh was allowed to run out of control, all nearby villages would be submerged.

The next meeting is scheduled for the end of April.