Houses evacuated and road closed as f lood crisis worsens
AT LEAST two families had to evacuate their homes at Curraghboy, Co. Roscommon, as the flooding at Lough Funshinagh deteriorated yesterday.
The flooding also forced the closure of part of a busy regional road in the area until the summer.
Roscommon County Council announced that the R362 at Coolnageer, Curraghboy, would close from yesterday for ‘the minimum period necessary’.
The council indicated that the road would be closed for two to three months and hopes it will reopen by August 1.
Roscommon TDs have pleaded with the Government to carry out emergency works in the area to minimise the risk of damage from further flooding. Independent TD Denis Naughten last night said the Government has contacted the Attorney General about getting these emergency works pushed through.
He added: ‘Minister Kieran O’Donnell has just informed the local community that he is referring the issue of the overflow pipe at Lough Funshinagh to the Attorney General to seek legal advice on how this matter can be progressed to alleviate the current dire situation in the local community. We’re looking forward to feedback from Mr O’Donnell over the coming days.’
In 2021, Roscommon County Council began constructing an overflow pipe to carry excess water away from the Curraghboy area. This water would then flow into Lough Ree.
However, works on this project stopped after a successful legal action by Friends of the Irish Environment.
Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday, several other Roscommon TDs came together to plead with the Coalition to get something done urgently.
Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice said: ‘An emergency order can be issued by Government for a temporary measure to get the water moving which will work until a permanent solution is found.
‘That has the backing of the
National Parks and Wildlife Service. It has the backing of every politician around the place. I am asking the Tánaiste to do this next Tuesday or sooner if he can,’ he added.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin replied that he agreed that the situation was intolerable for people living in the area.
He said: ‘I would argue anywhere that the protection of people’s lives and homes should trump any other consideration. That is my view and I would be prepared to go into court and fight that.
‘I will talk to the Minister for the Environment about whether we can give support to Roscommon County Council to ensure it has a robust position to advance. That may happen in the context of a new engineering solution because that could also face legal action,’ Mr Martin said.