Cllr Fallon was speaking following a meeting between Minister for the OPW Kieran O’Donnell TD, representatives of the OPW and Roscommon County Council, local councillors, Oireachtas members, and a number of residents affected by flooding at Lough Funshinagh.
“There is no doubt there is an absolute commitment from the Government, OPW, and Roscommon County Council to find a solution as quickly as possible,” outlined Cllr Fallon. “Work on the long-term solution of a pipe to Lough Ree is ongoing, with a view to making an application to An Bord Pleanála late this year or early next year.
“It is hoped that a positive result can then be obtained to allow the matter to return to the High Court and for the work to proceed, hopefully within the next twelve months”.
However, Cllr Fallon pointed out that the more immediate concern is that Lough Funshinagh is currently 1.65m higher than this time last year.
“The huge difficulty is that we have to survive next winter,” explained Cllr Fallon. “The only real option is to remove a quantity of water from Lough Funshinagh. The preferred option is a pumping system into the Cross River. This application will probably go to An Bord Pleanála at the end of August, and it is hoped it will receive a quick response with the work then beginning quickly.
“The most frightening observation from the OPW was the confirmation that there are now only two options for next winter. One is to allow the lake to rise to a natural height, which will be much higher than last year and would mean it would then flow uncontrolled into the village of Curraghboy and reach the Cross River uncontrolled. That is a highly dangerous situation and would destroy many houses and large tracts of farm land.
“The second, and only real, option is to remove water by pump, therefore controlling the flow. The land between Lough Funshinagh and the Cross River would then not be flooded as the water would be controlled to prevent any flood adjacent to the river.
“I am appealing to everyone to cooperate to find the best solution to save homes and farm land around Lough Funshinagh and Curraghboy this winter,” concluded Cllr Fallon.
