I have met with the families and have seen at first hand the impact flooding at Lough Funshinagh has had on their daily lives and livelihoods.
In my capacity as Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, I, together with my Office of Public Works (OPW), officials have been meeting intensively with Roscommon County Council, state bodies and engineering and environmental consultants during summer 2024 to progress the interim plan and works for Lough Funshinagh which included seeking planning consent from An Bord Pleanála for the Curraghboy temporary pipeline and pumping solution ahead of this winter. The necessary work has been completed and Roscommon County Council submitted this planning application to An Bord Pleanála on Friday 20th September.
Roscommon County Council has finalised its initial contract arrangements with a specialist Dutch pumping company for procurement of specialist pipes and pumping equipment, so that if the temporary solution is given consent, temporary pumping could start within weeks of a planning decision.
In addition, the OPW has approved once off funding to Roscommon County Council to replace the existing roadside barriers with more resilient mitigation measures and these works will commence in the coming weeks.
The work to complete the necessary planning consent application for the permanent solution is continuing and will be the subject of a further and separate planning application.
I am aware that Roscommon County Council is engaging with multiple agencies in its response to the ongoing flood event at Lough Funshinagh and any compensation for impacted families, including from road closures, would not be a matter for the Office of Public Works and would fall to the responsibility of the appropriate Department and Minister to consider having regard to the nature of the compensation being sought.
