Canney: flooding should not be politicized

Independent TD Seán Canney said he has met with Minister Patrick O’Donovan to “flesh out a proposal” to create a Local Improvement Scheme for rivers and channels in need of dredging.

“I have requested the Minister for the OPW Patrick O ’Donovan TD to organize a meeting of all TD’s along the River Shannon basin whose areas are affected by flooding to put in place a plan for the alleviation of the flooding problems,“ said Canney.

“Speaking in Dáil Eireann, I stated that flooding and the solutions should not be politicized, we have a responsibility to work together in order to bring forward solutions.”

The biggest issue with flooding on the Shannon and the summer flooding in the Callows is the amount of environmental constraints that exist under law in trying to carry out works.

“I offered my full support to the Minister in bringing forward solutions in a timely way.”

“In order to be successful and to bring relief to the farmers and homeowners affected we need to remove the pinch points in the river and focus on the plan for increased channel clearing and dredging”.

“Many of the problems have engineering solutions identified and we need to work as a team to deliver,” concluded Canney.