Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I endorse all that has been said in respect of the flooding crisis affecting communities in various parts of the country. There is an extra dimension to this issue. Ms Evelyn Cusack from the Met service stated last night that June has been one of the wettest months on record. A real problem, which appears to have gone off the radar, arises in the Shannon basin around Athlone. Two weeks ago, farmers in that area expressed serious concern at the high water levels on the Shannon and called on the statutory agencies to ensure the levels would be reduced. One farmer said 50 acres of land was flooded which he was unable to access for silage purposes. That is a crisis for the families concerned. The problem is that there are three State agencies involved with the Shannon waterways - Waterways Ireland, the ESB and the Office of Public Works. I have a particular interest in the first lake of the Shannon, Lough Allen, which is just outside of Drumshambo and is used as a reservoir. When work on the Shannon scheme was undertaken in the late 1920s, sluice gates were erected that could be raised and lowered, thus controlling the level of the lake to take account of the needs further down the Shannon. This is causing a problem that needs to be addressed. In the context of the request by Senator MacSharry for the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, to come to the House, would the Cathaoirleach convey my concern about this problem to him so that he would be able to bring clarity to the role of the three agencies?