Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputy Connaughton.

As I speak, water levels on the Shannon are rising rapidly and this has a devastating impact on the habitat of the Shannon callows. The callows consist of a flood plain of approximately 6,000 hectares with two very important bird habitats, namely, the wet meadows where the corncrake breeds and the damp pasture that is used by waders. The number of corncrakes and waders has declined drastically in the past 20 years. This unexpected and unseasonal flooding of the callows has wiped out the internationally important breeding on the callows for this year and this is seriously threatening the survival of the corncrake population, which is Ireland's only globally threatened bird species. It also has a dramatic impact on farmers and their livelihoods. Up to 10,000 acres of land have been flooded and farmers are forced to purchase fodder for their livestock.

Flooding is expected during the winter months but not at this time of the year. There are a number of mitigating steps which can be taken. The OPW produced a report on the Shannon flooding, which outlined potential mitigation options and the economic viability of a flood relief scheme. The report was subsequently distributed to the 22 stakeholders, but no further action has been taken on this report and it is now gathering dust. If a sum of €5 million was set aside for maintenance of the watercourse, it would have a direct impact on the vulnerability of the callows to flooding and thereby protect the wild birds, farmers and the navigation of the river itself.

Proposals have been presented to the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government to develop a wetland park in the north midlands, in County Roscommon and County Longford, which would increase the capacity of the flood area north of Athlone and thereby address the extent of the flooding in the Shannon callows. This proposal could help to alleviate flooding as there is potentially about 30,000 hectares of cutaway bog, which would naturally flood by up to 4.5 metres if such a project was developed. To get the project up and running, all that is required is the formal approval of the Government. This would provide a major buffer to the current and potential flooding in the Shannon basin and benefit farmland, callows and towns such as Carrick-on-Shannon and Athlone.

There are approximately 600 farmers in the Shannon callows. Current environmental restrictions such as the nitrates directive place a significant financial burden on those farmers, on top of the cost of this flooding. Under the terms of the EU directives, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government must compensate landowners for losses or costs incurred as a result of such designations. However, this issue is outstanding for the past nine years. If it was resolved, it would be an important and timely boost to farmers who now have to find replacement feed for their livestock.

Roscommon County Council has made a submission to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to raise roads, improve safety and provide access for isolated communities in the areas of Clonown and Drumlosh. However, that has fallen on deaf ears in the Department.

It is imperative that any debris along the river south of Athlone is removed immediately, especially the debris caused by Waterways Ireland and the ESB in the vicinity of weirs.

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