Government "to seek Attorney General's advice" on Lough Funshinagh overflow pipe

The Government is to seek legal advice from the Attorney General in relation to the use of an overflow pipe to ease the current flooding crisis at Lough Funshinagh.

That's according to local TD Denis Naughten who was speaking from the Roscommon County Council offices following a visit today by the newly-installed Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kieran O'Donnell.

The emergency situation at Lough Funshinagh has worsened significantly this week, with the floodwater spreading towards Curraghboy and reports that the residents of another two homes have been forced to evacuate.

In an update this evening (Friday), Deputy Naughten said, "Minister Kieran O'Donnell has just informed the local community that he is referring the issue of the overflow pipe at Lough Funshinagh to the Attorney General to seek legal advice on how this matter can be progressed to alleviate the current dire situation in the local community.

"We're looking forward to feedback from Minister O'Donnell over the coming days on foot of seeking that legal advice."

Work to install an overflow pipe from Lough Funshinagh to Lough Ree was initiated by Roscommon County Council in 2021, but the work was stopped after a High Court challenge brought by the Cork-based group Friends of the Irish Environment.

A spokesperson for Roscommon County Council said today that, "due to ongoing flooding adjacent to Lough Funshinagh, in the townland of Coolnageer, it has been necessary to close the R362 from Lysterfield to Curraghboy.

"Local access shall be in place, and diversions will be signposted between Athleague and Curraghboy," said the council.

This follows on from another ongoing flood-prompted road closure, which commenced in February, of the L2005 road in Ballagh, Rahara.

Water levels in the area are at an all-time high, and in the Dáil yesterday (Thursday), TD Michael Fitzmaurice called on the Government to issue an emergency order that he said could allow excess water be removed from the lake within days.

"An emergency order can be issued by Government for a temporary measure to get the water moving, which will work until a permanent solution is found," said Deputy Fitzmaurice.

"That has the backing of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It has the backing of every politician around the place. I am asking the Tánaiste to do this next Tuesday or sooner if he can," he added.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin agreed that he would talk to the Attorney General and the National Parks and Wildlife Service about the situation at Lough Funshinagh.

"I am up for whatever is the most effective, efficient and timely way of dealing with this for the people whose livelihoods are involved," he said.