Senator Frank Feighan has said that this evening’s visit (Monday, September 19th) to Boyle by the Minister responsible for the OPW and Flood Relief, Sean Canney, will give him the opportunity to talk directly to those who have been severely affected by flooding.
“As part of a county wide tour of Roscommon today which includes Lough Funshinagh, Athleague and Castleplunkett, Minister Canney will also visit Boyle this evening to look at turloughs which have been associated with severe flooding of homes and farms last Winter.
“Minister Canney is well aware of my numerous representations on this issue and the need for the OPW to carry out a technical examination of these turloughs. I am glad the Minister is now visiting Boyle to see these flood-hit areas at first hand and talk directly to those who have been severely affected.
“One of the flooding turloughs the Minister will be visiting this evening is at Lisserdrea beside the home of Ann and Vincent Brady, who are still reeling from the flooding devastation they suffered last Winter.
“With funding assistance from the severe weather fund, Roscommon County Council did raise the road near the Brady home and I understand that the council recently opened a swallow hole towards the end of turlough. These works revealed a slow flow of water which may indicate a blockage of some type.
“As part of the agreed monitoring programme of turloughs nationally between the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Geological Survey of Ireland, this Lisserdrea turlough is among those selected for a technical examination which will involve the use of a dye-trace. It is hoped this examination will help inform workable solutions to address the flooding problem.
“This turlough examination and the analysis of the results must happen as soon as possible in order to meaningfully address a flooding crisis, which has caused so much stress and anxiety to the Brady family.”
