As water levels continue to rise, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), a group advocating for adherence to European environmental laws, has criticised the approach taken by Roscommon County Council.
According to a statement issued in recent days by FIE, the council’s decision in early May 2021 to bypass required Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for flood relief efforts contravened EU laws.
The council initially pursued a legal and rules-based approach, consulting with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and planning based on an environmental impact statement. However, they later reverted to using a 1949 Act, which pre-dates current environmental assessment requirements, to expedite flood relief measures.
“FIE challenged this in the High Court and the Council put up no defence, yet we had to return again to the Courts when work recommenced in breach we say of the High Court Order,” the statement from FIE said. This has led to significant concern among environmentalists about the precedent such actions may set.
In its statement, the FIE said: “All of those who work with FIE appreciate the anguish and anxiety that people are experiencing in the local area and have the greatest sympathy for the families who have been affected by flooding at this turlough; any flooding of a home is a frightening experience; the loss of one’s home is one of the most traumatic experiences one can have; and the creeping nature of groundwater flooding is particularly hard to endure”.
Local groups and politicians have voiced their growing concern over the impact of flooding on homes and farmland. They argue that immediate action is required to mitigate the rising water levels, which continue to threaten the region’s infrastructure and community well-being.
The discord highlights the complex balance between environmental conservation and the immediate needs of communities facing natural disasters.
As both sides seek solutions, the need for a balanced approach that respects both legal environmental protections and the urgent needs of affected residents remains a pressing issue for Roscommon County Council and national authorities.
