The Cathaoirleach addressed the meeting regarding the recent and ongoing crisis situation for families affected by the record flood levels at Lough Funshinagh and the immediate need to find a solution. This has been an ongoing problem since 2015 and had gone from flooding 600 acres to 1200 acres and the water level is now 550mm higher than at its highest point and 1.54m higher than this day last year. Thanks to the ongoing work of Roscommon County Council, flood waters have been prevented from accessing up to five houses, but it is getting more difficult to keep the water at bay. The families are under severe mental and financial stress and a solution must be finalised as soon as possible as time is of the essence.

The Chief Executive acknowledged the serious hardship being experienced by the families around Lough Funshinagh. The deteriorating situation has defied the theory that this flooding is of a cyclical nature. It is important that the elected members and the community have a clear understanding of what is being proposed and what can be done by the Council in partnership with other stakeholders.

Mr. Shane Tiernan presented a report to the meeting on the matter:

·         Acknowledged that the rainfall of the last number of years have raised the flood level to unprecedented levels causing havoc and stress to the community affected with houses and farms under siege.

·         Roscommon County Council have worked to raise roads and prevent flood water reaching the living area of any home.

·         Various plans and proposals in recent weeks have been mooted regarding pumping but it is not an option

·         As this is a designated SAC, it further complicates a final solution. It is also a European Natura 200 site with a sensitive natural environment where vegetation and wildlife may be negatively affected by any construction project and as such is subject to a Part 8 Planning process that is required to go directly to an An Bord Pleanála for a decision.

·         Discussions have taken place between Roscommon County Council, OPW, NPW, Dept. of Agriculture, and the GSI and progress has been made to designing and advancing to planning a significant capital project to resolve the problem

·         The identified solution will have to follow a process including appropriate data collection and a perfected planning application. It will respect engineering principles, to drain off excess levels from the lake as they occur.

·         The estimated timelines of the planning and design work to progress to planning submission is 24 months as extensive surveys and assessments are required.

·         Roscommon County Council have actively undertaken protective measures in various locations affected including localised pumping, raising of a number of roads and installation of flood barriers, rick armour and supports.  Further works will be assessed in the summer season when it is hoped water levels will have reduced considerably.

The Elected Members discussed the matter as follows:

·         Thanks to Roscommon County Council for the works done to date and information supplied.

·         Disappointment that works have not progressed sooner. It is concerning that the levels will continue to rise and it will be too late by the time a permanent solution is implemented in two to three years.  A short term solution must be introduced without delay.

·         Minister O’Donovan has stated that the turloughs are the responsibility of RCC – can a letter of clarification be sought on this so this does not happen in other situations.

·         What are the costs spent to date by the Council on flooding mitigation in Lough Funshinagh?

·         There is a need to get an expert on pumping to give a presentation to the Athlone MD or full Plenary meeting. MW Hire from Kilkenny is such an expert in this field.

·         An interim pumping solution must be found immediately even taking into account all the constraints if there is willingness by the Council to do so in conjunction with all of the stakeholders. One pump can lower the level one inch in thirteen days i.e. 5ft in a two-year period. Having spoken to MW Hire, these pumps can bring the water 4km so there are solutions available.

·         Solutions have to take into account for both farming and residents. If lost lands cannot be brought back a Relocation Scheme has to be considered. The lands currently affected and that might never come back should get adequate compensation in a farm relocation scheme and a suitable home relocation scheme also should be as part of this and should be commenced in tandem with current proposals.

·         We have all bodies on board now and need to move to planning process and work together to expedite this.

·         There will be difficulties from environmental restrictions point of view with any proposed interim solution but it should be considered nonetheless.

·         The installation of an overflow pipe has to be considered as there is one outlet blocked and this will get worse as water levels rise and will back up in five other drains feeding into the turlough.

·         Framers have lost income and area aid funding due to flooding situation.

·         Considerable frustration of elected members that the report from the OPW did not address the situation and rainfall data based on historical events and not expected changes due to climate change.

·         Trees that are over 100 years old are dead and this is not a natural phenomenon. However, it is unlikely that a pipe taking away the water will have any effect on the body of water concerned. 

·         There are too many state bodies with an input into this matter but welcome the fact that they are all on board.

·         The Council should not be left with any expense in relation to the ongoing situation.

·         Our Oireachtas members should bring this crisis to the floor of Dáil and Senate as an emergency issue and ensure that the solution is fast tracked. 

·         The Council going about it the right way by bring the relevant parties together and preparing Part 8 planning application. It is imperative that the application to An Bord Pleanála is dealt with expeditiously.

·         Can a very deep borehole be drilled to provide an outlet to underground channels?

·         Need to remain unified through work of Chief Executive and Cathaoirleach and that the process is fast-tracked as two 2 years too long for a solution – need clear timelines for community to come to a successful outcome.

·         Relocation of a house is a possibility but very difficult or impossible to relocate a farmyard. By time we get a solution the village of Ballagh could be cut in two.

The Chief Executive replied that all costs associated to date are accounted for and will be made available to the members in the first instance and will also be publicly available and expected to be recovered including all future works. The OPW assessed the report on existing information but it is clear now that flood events will continue into the future. 

It is also a consideration that some existing houses may have to be relocated and two have already been relocated to date. There is no pumping solution and the proposal as outlined in the Report of the Director of Services must be progressed.  The quickest way to do this is to have the Part 8 submission to An Bord Pleanála in order – there is a huge body of legislation and complexities involved in the SAC that cannot be bypassed. The intervention of the Minister has brought everyone around table and all of the agencies want to progress this matter while normally we would have waited to get their feedback. The planning application needs to be perfect or the process will be delayed. He acknowledged the worry and stress of householders wondering if the water is going to flood their houses. The Council will do everything it can including saving as much time as possible and all the elected members should keep the pressure on all those involved to keep the matter in the public eye.

In response to further queries, the Chief Executive confirmed the OPW are the responsible body for flooding but Planning Infrastructure is the remit of the Local Authority. In regard to the type of infrastructure that is proposed, and because of the SAC designation, the application has to go to An Bord Pleanála because the Appropriate Assessment would dictate this.  Other options will have to be looked at but we are a long way from and not this year, but again there is no pumping solution.  There cannot be a situation whereby as a Local Authority keeping back floods, people do not get relief entitlements they would have if the Local Authority was unable to keep the flood at bay. Everything that has been said by the members will be taken on board and considered as they are all valuable inputs and concerns. There is no pumping solution or fast tracked approach, and the quickest way to get a final solution is a collaborative approach with all of the stakeholders perfecting an application that will survive any challenge.

The Cathaoirleach stated that Minister McConalogue is being lobbied to put a stay on loss of any farmer’s area aid in the absence of any solution.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Keogh

SECONDED by Cllr. Naughten

It was AGREED to request the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine to facilitate legislation to provide for a Farm Relocation Scheme including compensation for farms affected by flooding as a priority and that an adequate and suitable home relocation scheme is part of this scheme.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Waldron

SECONDED by Cllr. Fallon

It was AGREED that Roscommon County Council write to the Minister for Agriculture to request that legislation be enacted that no farmer should lose area aid as a result of flooding to their farmlands.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Ward

SECONDED by Cllr. Keogh

It was AGREED that that an overflow pipe be installed in Lough Funshinagh and that the planning application be fast tracked to commence the project as soon as possible.

It was PROPOSED by Cllr. Connaughton

            SECONDED by Cllr Dineen

That Roscommon County Council get pumping expert, be that MW Hire or another international expert to advise the members on pumping solutions not just in Lough Funshinagh but also all relevant situations around the county of Roscommon in what magnitude and methods of pumping.

At this stage the Chief Executive advised the Members they should be aware of S140 in relation to direction to the Chief Executive to incur expense on a specific action as there is no pumping solution. He stated that they should familiarise themselves on the legislation and advise the Cathaoirleach accordingly.

The Cathaoirleach stated that we will leave that proposal and that if under a S140 at the next meeting it is proposed it will be discussed then.