All State agencies with any responsibility for the river Shannon are to meet next week as the Government attempts to co-ordinate its response to the flooding crisis at its most critical location.
Water levels in the upper Shannon have risen 12cm in the last 48 hours and 6cm in Athlone, bringing the river’s level to 11cm above its previous peak on December 16th. Smaller Shannon tributaries are also rising at potentially dangerous levels. The river Brosna has risen 26cm in the last 48 hours.
Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Simon Harris said all agencies with some involvement with the river Shannon – such as the ESB, Bord na Móna, Waterways Ireland and local authorities – would meet next week in an attempt to come up with interim measures to prevent and alleviate flooding.
Out of 300 areas in a national plan to tackle flooding, 66 were along the Shannon, he said, adding that next week’s meeting would examine interim measures.
“People have been talking about solving problems with flooding on the Shannon since de Valera was in power,” he said. “We will have 66 plans for the Shannon by next summer. Our priority here is what we can do in the short term.”
Although rainfall was not as heavy as anticipated in the west yesterday, several properties succumbed to the elements overnight in spite of efforts to keep water at bay with pumps and sandbags.
Galway County Council director of services Liam Gavin said the situation in parts of south Galway was “as bad now” as during the floods of November 2009.
Gauges on the rivers Shannon, Suck, Clare and Dunkellin are critical, but Ballinasloe escaped the worst of the weather, and the N65 bridge across the Shannon at Portumna is still open.
Up to 30 families in south Galway are still staying with relatives, with several families accommodated in hotels by Galway County Council.
