Minister tells Dáil of 'climate migrants' in South Roscommon

A Minister of State has told the Dáil that the flooding crisis at Lough Funshinagh had created "the first climate migrants in County Roscommon".

Responding to a question from Deputy Denis Naughten last Thursday, OPW Minister Patrick O'Donovan said, "The first of the climate migrants in County Roscommon have left their homes.

"People talked about climate migration in this Dáil yesterday like it was something that was just happening in the northern Sahara. It is happening in our own country."

He told Deputy Naughten that his office had been engaging with the National Parks and Wildlife Service about finding a resolution to the flooding issues at Lough Funshinagh.

The former Lyons-O'Meara house, which was beside Lough Funshinagh in Rahara, had to be demolished last autumn after being severely flooded on a number of occasions.