Lough Funshinagh flooding crisis 'now extending to Curraghboy area'

A South Roscommon councillor has said the current emergency at Lough Funshinagh is spreading to new areas, with the floodwater now extending to the road between Rahara and Curraghboy.

With heavy rainfall persisting over recent weeks, Cllr Laurence Fallon reiterated today (Thursday) that there was a need for urgent action to be taken.

"Water from Lough Funshinagh has now spilled into Carrick, Curraghboy, where it is now threatening homes as well as the main Rahara to Curraghboy road," stated Cllr Fallon.

"This is a low-lying area, and the situation on the ground is deteriorating rapidly, as the area lies around one metre lower than the current level of Lough Funshinagh, which means there is no possibility the water will stop flowing into that location.

"This extended flooding will cause major hardship to yet more farmland and now we are facing the unacceptable situation where more houses are at risk from flooding."

Cllr Fallon explained that the flooding is likely to result in the closure of the Rahara to Curraghboy road, causing serious inconvenience for local residents and those who regularly use the road.

"Lough Funshinagh is now out of control and it was inevitable that the flooding would extend due to the continued inaction of Government. This is further proof of the ongoing crisis," he stated.

"The only solution is to remove a significant quantity of water from Lough Funshinagh immediately, followed by the rapid implementation of a permanent solution.

"This is a crisis that has to be dealt with, and dealt with now.

"There is no possibility that it can rectify itself naturally and I am calling again on the Government to use whatever powers it has to address the crisis at Lough Funshinagh," he concluded.