Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Clarke. The flooding we have witnessed on lands adjacent to the River Shannon has been devastating for a large number of households, farms and businesses in my county of Tipperary. The problem has been getting worse and more frequent. We have all seen the pictures and heard the accounts of those affected and we have listened to the plans to address the problem. In Tipperary, the impact is devastating for many. Large areas of farmland are submerged every year, with both long-term impacts and an immediate loss of earnings for farmers as the plans they have made for the year to come are set back. This can come at a significant cost. Businesses in parts of the county see footfall drop off as water levels on Lough Derg rise above a certain point. Others have seen their stock destroyed. The problem is made worse because insurance companies will not cover them. It disheartens me that there are homeowners and business owners in my county who know they will be impacted by rising water levels on the Shannon. They are helpless in the face of the surging current. As I said, many cannot get insurance to help them pick up the pieces afterwards because the problem is so persistent.

Studies have shown that flooding has become more frequent over the past 60 years, with the volume of flooding increasing by 5% per decade. It seems that the impact of climate change will make that problem worse in the years to come. There is a lot of focus on climate change right now, including the increase in carbon tax that was signed off by the Government. However, a co-ordinated strategy to address flooding along the length of the River Shannon is not being given adequate priority. The programme for Government includes a reference to expanding the river basis management plan, but the River Shannon does not feature as a headline issue. We have seen how minor works upriver have had a negative impact on communities downriver. This is an example of how a comprehensive approach to dealing with the challenges posed by flooding on the Shannon is not being taken. This fragmented approach has made matters worse for some while bringing improvements for others. It also causes delays.

When it comes to who is responsible for the proper management of the Shannon, the list runs to 20 bodies, including the ESB, Waterways Ireland, the OPW and the local authorities. This means there is little in the way of leadership or a co-ordinated response, leaving communities with the impression that their needs and the impact on the local environment are not understood. It means that while there are plenty of agencies involved in managing the waterway, any actions that could prevent the type of flooding we are seeing lack a central point of focus. The approach to dealing with the problems is, as I said, fragmented. There are very real concerns that if a single agency is not created and tasked with the co-ordinated management and maintenance of the river and with anti-flood measures, then the works and schemes needed are not going to happen within a reasonable timeframe. As a result, the risk to life and livelihood will continue.

The Irish Farmers Association, IFA, is one of the voices calling for a single agency to deal with the issue of flooding along the River Shannon. Farmers are the custodians of the land. They know the land, how the river interacts with it and the impacts rising water levels have on it. They say that a single agency is needed. Last March, Michael Silke of the Mid-Shannon Flood Relief Group accused the State authorities of not listening to the farmers and communities who are consistently being impacted by the flooding of the River Shannon. He, too, called for a single agency to assume responsibility for the management of the river. Fianna Fáil also advocated a single agency approach when it was in opposition. The party has a chance now to make the change it called for when its members were on this side of the House. The Shannon flood risk State agency co-ordination working group was set up to examine these issues but, as far as I can see, it has met no more than a dozen times since its establishment in 2016. Its impact has been limited and communities in certain areas continue to be subjected to intense flooding.

The interests of the stakeholders up and down the River Shannon must be addressed in a comprehensive manner that is consistent in its approach and includes a plan of action. This is the only way we can successfully tackle the problem. Sinn Féin's Bill seeks to do just that and offers an effective strategy for managing Ireland's largest river. A single agency would bring all these separate interests together and facilitate an agreement with local communities and organisations to maintain and adjust water levels to meet the requirements of all concerned. The agency would co-ordinate the work of the key stakeholders involved in the management and maintenance of the Shannon and co-ordinate flood prevention efforts. It would consult with all stakeholders and provide the Minister with a strategic plan for the river within three months of its establishment. It would also have the ability to reach an agreement with any other bodies that may have an interest in a particular course of action that is being considered. This would make progress faster and draw on the knowledge base of all interested parties.

Constituents of mine who live along the Shannon have had enough of the disjointed approach adopted to date to the ongoing flooding problems. For the sake of the thousands of home owners, businesses and farmers whose future is dependent on the proper management of the river, I appeal to all Deputies to support the Bill.

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