Planning application lodged for temporary Lough Funshinagh flood relief measures

A planning application has been lodged by Roscommon County Council in relation to a temporary solution to the Lough Funshinagh flooding crisis.

The application “to develop an interim flood relief scheme to pump water from Lough Funshinagh and to discharge the water to the Cross River, within the townland of Carrick” was submitted to An Bord Pleanála on Friday, September 20.

All submission/observations on the application must be made by November 4.

If the application was successful, the interim flood relief scheme will be in place for a period of up to 24 months, during which time there will be ongoing monitoring of water levels in Lough Funshinagh and in the Cross River.

Minister of State at the Office of Public Works Kieran O'Donnell and the Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Paschal Fitzmaurice announced yesterday (Thursday) that the application would be submitted this week.

Minister O'Donnell said, “Arrangements are in place with a specialist pumping firm to start pumping water from Lough Funshinagh within weeks, if planning consent is granted.”

Cathaoirleach Fitzmaurice welcomed the announcement, saying “I am delighted that a process capable of delivering meaningful flood relief and flood management has started and would hope that this process can reach a favourable conclusion as soon as possible”.

Their announcement follows a statement by Taoiseach Simon Harris on Shannonside FM on Monday that Roscommon Council would submit the application this week.

The environmental group Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) has also welcomed the announcement that the planning application would be submitted.

FIE had previously objected to earlier efforts to address the flooding, but Director Tony Lowes said in a statement that “The basic issue with the previous efforts was the attempt to bypass European Environmental Directives - that appears to have been addressed by the new application to An Bord Pleanala”.

The lake in South Roscommon expanded to an unprecedented level last winter, resulting in some homes being evacuated and many others requiring the continuous use of industrial pumps in order to stay dry.

Due to continuing high levels of water in the lake during the year, it was feared the coming winter months would see further and more extensive flooding.