Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2026
57. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide a timeframe for a further update on efforts to end flooding at Lough Funshinagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51130/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra71. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide an update on OPW efforts to end flooding at Lough Funshinagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51129/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 71 together.
Lough Funshinagh is a designated Special Area of Conservation Turlough, and has experienced increasingly severe flooding in recent years. These events, driven by extreme weather, have resulted in unprecedented water levels, flooding and flood risk to communities surrounding Lough Funshinagh.
In response to the increasing frequency and severity of flooding, Roscommon County Council working in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), has progressed a three-pronged approach to manage both the immediate and long-term flood risk, while ensuring compliance with environmental and planning legislation. This includes the provision of Individual Property Protection for those properties at flood risk, and Trap-bags which are ready to be deployed at locations surrounding the Lough.
Due to the significant flooding that occurred in the spring of 2024, the development of an Interim Flood Relief Scheme became the primary focus in advance of the permanent scheme. Planning permission for this interim scheme was received from An Coimisiún Pleanála, in January 2025, with the scheme activated in April of last year. The interim scheme is regulating the level of the Lough through overground pumping to the Cross River. Over the recent winter the pumping of some 2.3 billion litres of water, at a rate of up to 300 litres per second, has ensured that water levels at Lough Funshinagh have been effectively managed. In light of reduced water levels, the pumps were temporarily deactivated on 8th June 2026, in accordance with the scheme's planning consent.
Roscommon County Council, with funding from the OPW, is currently progressing the Lough Funshinagh Climate Adaptation Project (permanent scheme). The work, over recent months, by the scheme’s consultants on environmental surveys and assessments to manage constraints on the potential options has further developed the options, with archaeological geophysical surveys commencing recently. I met with the Council, elected members and the local community at Roscommon County Council last April, where I facilitated a briefing on the nine potential options.
A third Public Participation Day (PPD), organised by Roscommon County Council, took place in April of this year. Members of the local community and interested stakeholders were presented with the nine potential scheme options currently under assessment by the Council. The Council with their consultants are currently undertaking a technical evaluation and comparison of all nine options taking into account the feedback that was received during the PPD.
A further PPD to present the emerging preferred option is planned later this year, followed by the completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS). A planning application for the scheme is scheduled to be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála in late 2026, in-line with the project programme.
