Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the substantial amount of money made available in the programme for Government to deal with flooding. However, I refer to the appalling situation in south Roscommon where the level of the River Shannon has increased by 7 in. during the past two weeks. Yesterday I received a number of calls from people affected. Flood waters are beginning to come out onto the land and we are only in July. However, the problem can be solved. I have spoken to people and gained much local knowledge. The weirs at Meelick and Parteen are holding water. The weir at Meelick is controlled by the Office of Public Works, OPW, while the weir at Parteen is controlled by the Electricity Supply Board, ESB. I am told that if the water held there - a number of gates are closed - was released, the flooding that will occur in the region could be alleviated. I am asking the Tánaiste to get into a conversation with the ESB and the OPW to see if some of the water could be released in order to stop a major problem in July.

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