Pledges support for Lough Funshinagh community
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says that the Government is “fully committed” to finding a long-term solution to the ongoing flooding crisis at Lough Funshinagh.
Deputy Martin was speaking during a brief meeting he had with local residents and public representatives while on a visit to County Roscommon on Tuesday.
The Taoiseach said that he was taken aback by what he saw when he visited the Lough Funshinagh area some months ago to view the situation first-hand.
He pledged the full support of the Government to help find a permanent solution to the problem, while welcoming the recent development confirming that a temporary pumping system will alleviate the predicament of residents in the short-term.
Present at the meeting were local residents Liam, Michael and Brid Kenny, Michael and Emily Beattie and Bernie Fallon. Local county councillors Laurence Fallon, Emer Kelly and Domnick Connolly were also in attendance.
At St Brigid’s GAA Clubhouse, the Taoiseach answered questions from the local and national media about the Government’s response to Storm Éowyn. Deputy Martin praised the role played by frontline staff and local authorities in terms of clearing roads and working to restore electricity, communications and phone services nationwide.
Mr Martin rejected criticism asserting that the Government response has been too slow. Earlier in the day the Taoiseach was confronted by a woman in Castlerea who accused the Government of failing to prepare properly for Storm Éowyn.
Rachel Connolly from Cloonkeen told Deputy Martin that she had been without power and water for a number of days and had lost the entire contents of her fridge three times over the past year due to power outages. “We are very, very frustrated” she told him. The Taoiseach said that the storm was the worst in 50 years and that the first priority was to save lives.
The Taoiseach also travelled to Ballaghaderreen where he met with local firefighters and council workers. The CE of Roscommon County Council Shane Tiernan accompanied the Taoiseach on his tour of the county, as did Deputy Martin Daly.
Mr Martin visited community hubs in Ballaghaderreen, Castlerea and Kiltoom.
