Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Murphy for his comments in respect of John Connor.

I wish to raise the issue of flooding. In Roscommon, there is a particular issue relating to the rising waters of Lough Funshinagh. We need to discuss flood measures and flood alleviation projects and how we can accelerate them, as well as what can be done in respect of areas within a special area of conservation, SAC. That will require different Departments speaking to each other. Under Natura 2000, there are 75 recognised turloughs in the European Union. Of those, 45 are in Ireland, with the remainder spread throughout Germany and Slovenia. The majority of Ireland's 45 turloughs are in the likes of Roscommon, Galway, Clare and elsewhere on the western seaboard, which is a limestone and karst region. These are all designated special areas of conservation. A turlough is a disappearing lake. The water is supposed to come from a subterranean source and then disappear after a number of months. The issue is that has not happened for many years at Lough Funshinagh. I do not know whether the likes of Lough Funshinagh can even be defined as a turlough anymore. I have a question regarding the designation of SACs and, in particular, the designation when a turlough no longer meets the criteria for or scientific definition of a turlough. What can be done in such cases? The water level at Lough Funshinagh is currently raised and the land, biodiversity and trees around it are all flooded. My question relates to the redesignation of SACs, flood relief projects and the Government's plan for managing this issue.