IFA demands flooding action plan

IFA Connacht regional chairman and Flooding Project Team chairman, Tom Turley has called for a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Group to put in place an action plan to deal with the current severe flooding.

Making a direct appeal to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and Minister for Public Works Simon Harris, he said, “Farmers across the country have endured a very difficult situation, particularly in western, north-western and midland counties. Already, IFA is reporting devastation to thousands of acres of farmland, households cut off, and animals having to be moved to higher ground.

“The problem is particularly acute on the River Shannon where already Lough Allen has reached the peak water levels of the 2009 winter floods. In other areas such as Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Longford, Westmeath, Roscommon, Offaly, Clare and Limerick vast amounts of lands and households are flooded many of which have never experienced such devastation.

“There is now a need for a clear Government response. While river management plans are awaited from Government, immediate action is now required. The IFA is very concerned that these plans are not taking account of the devastation on farm land and farm bust and put in place a plan to alleviate this for the future.”