2012 Committee Report should be considered as climate change causes major flooding – Corcoran Kennedy

Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, has said that recent flooding is alerting us to the fact that climate change is real and that the Oireachtas Environment Committee report from July 2012 should be considered in decisions made to deal with the issue. Deputy Corcoran Kennedy was speaking in the Dáil on the recent Shannon flooding.

“The River Shannon has been flooding in winter for centuries.  However, the onset of summer flooding, coupled with an increase in the incidence of torrential rain in recent years, has alerted us to the fact that something else is happening, namely, climate change.

“Climate scientists tell us that extreme weather events will become more frequent, with more intense rainfall and high river flows expected to become the norm.

“In 2012, a summer flood also caused havoc along the Shannon catchment, including the Shannon Callows in west County Offaly, parts of north County Tipperary and other midlands counties.  As a result the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and Gaeltacht produced a report containing eight proposals urgently required to tackle flooding on the River Shannon.

“The first and most important recommendation was to appoint one agency to oversee management of the River Shannon.  The joint committee recommended that this agency be the Office of Public Works.  It envisaged that all other agencies would be obliged to follow directions given by the OPW if their response was not sufficient to have a positive impact as soon as storms were forecast.

“The seven other recommendations made in the report were:
·    To maintain the River Shannon, its tributaries and the water feeding into it
·    Engage in local consultation and co-ordination
·    Maintain appropriate water levels; prevent and alleviate the build-up of silt
·    Establish flood warning systems and emergency management
·    Utilise boglands to attenuate water from the River Shannon, where necessary
·    Protect our natural heritage

“I welcome the Government’s decision to establish a River Shannon Task Force and I appeal to the Minister of State, Simon Harris, to ensure that the OPW takes into account the report of the joint committee before making a final decision on the terms of reference.

“Another consideration must include a survey of existing zoning for development in flood plains, either residential, commercial or industrial, as evidence of poor planning decisions in the past has been obvious to all in recent weeks.

“I am also keen to see the establishment of local community flood relief committees, who could work with local authorities and other agencies to produce a public flood response plan.  This could include weather forecasting and river level monitoring to trigger a local response.  I believe this is a real possibility since communities have already shown their willingness by being proactive and assisting in efforts to protect residences and businesses in recent weeks.

“Year after year, problems arise when maintenance is required but some EU directive or other is quoted as grounds for preventing the essential work.  This happens regularly at “The Cut” near Meelick and Banagher.  It is silted to such an extent that vegetation growth is reducing the width of the river, which naturally bursts its banks as a result.  This must be addressed.

“I pay tribute to all agencies and committees involved in coping with the extensive flooding of the Shannon, River Brosna and Lough Derg, especially around the areas of Shannon Harbour, Shannonbridge, Bannagher, Lusmagh, Ferbane, Pollagh, the Derries, Rashina, Lorrha and Carrigahorig, to mention but a few.”