Tánaiste to visit Lough Funshinagh flooding - but not until late May

Tánaiste Micheál Martin is due to visit Lough Funshinagh at the end of next month.

Local Independent councillor Laurence Fallon said he had written to the leaders of the three Government parties last month inviting them to visit South Roscommon to view the emergency situation there.

Yesterday (Monday) he was contacted by the Tánaiste's office which informed him that the Fianna Fáil leader would visit Lough Funshinagh on Friday, May 31.

Speaking this morning, Cllr Fallon said the welcome spell of dry weather over recent days had stabilised water levels on Lough Funshinagh itself, but that water was still flowing into what he described as the new "satellite lake" which has developed next to it in the townland of Carrick, Curraghboy.

He said that, even if there is a prolonged spell of dry weather, there was still a likelihood that the water near the village of Curraghboy would continue to rise for "another third of a metre at least" before levelling off.

Cllr Fallon said a "heroic" and ongoing effort was being made to keep water out of homes in areas such as Ballagh and Lisfelim, but unless a situation to the crisis was found soon he didn't think these areas would be able to withstand another winter.

"We welcome the fact that the Tánaiste's visit is happening, because we are in a desperate situation here which needs emergency intervention," said Cllr Fallon.

"I feel it would be unthinkable that he would come down here without very clear information as to the immediate way forward. I know that the Attorney General is working on it at the moment.

"It's a crisis, and it needs to be solved. It's as simple as that," he concluded.