Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Leas-Chathaoirleach, given his strong links to County Roscommon, will have heard the debate about Lough Funshinagh on many occasions. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Fleming, for coming to the House to discuss this matter.

Lough Funshinagh is a special area of conservation, SAC, in County Roscommon. It was once known as Ireland's amazing disappearing lake. There were reports going back to the 1950s and 1960s that the lake actually disappeared in a short space of time. The most recent word of the lake disappearing is from 12 or 13 years ago, when, in the space of two days, the lake dried out. When this happened, thousands of fish were lost, bird life that thrived around the water was stressed and lost, and much of the flora and fauna was damaged.

For some time, there has been a national debate about Lough Funshinagh, mainly because of the damage that has been done to farm lands and farm sheds, and the threat to housing and livestock. An OPW report was commissioned four years ago which gathered information from Roscommon County Council and the Geological Survey of Ireland and that report is now coming to light. The report is not good news for the locality or for the 45 farmers affected. Basically, one of the solutions spoken about is the making of a drain from the lake to the River Shannon at an estimated cost of €1.5 million. However, the report suggests this would not be good from an ecological perspective.

I want to point out that the lake is 4 ft. higher today than it was this time last year, so we can see the problem. Its expansion has destroyed the flora and fauna, and the fact it is now a special area of conservation is something of a joke. We all have to be very careful about SAC areas but due to the lack of action, the flora and fauna, including the fish life, has been damaged. There is a need for a cost-benefit analysis in that we are looking at a cost of €1.5 million to construct a drain from the lake to the River Shannon.

If there is anything positive in the report, and it is hard to find positivity in it, it acknowledges that at least two families will have to be moved out of the area and that the State will have to take on that responsibility. Of course, that is if people want to move.

I ask that the Minister of State go back to the Minister on this. For now, we need to have a meeting of local people with local representatives, and I have been speaking to Councillor Laurence Fallon and other councillors. We need to further discuss the issue to see if we can make progress.The most important point is that this lake continues to expand. It may not end with damage to 45 farms, roads and houses. If the lake continues to expand, we are going to have to take immediate action.