Local TD Denis Naughten has again been in communication with the Minister for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue TD, seeking their urgent intervention on the rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground at Lough Funshinagh.
“Water levels are now 9cm higher than the historic high-water mark set in April 2020 and as I pointed out in Dáil Éireann during a debate on the turlough recently, the lough will not reach its seasonal peak until March,” stated Denis Naughten.
“While I understand that both Ministers had constructive engagement last week when they held a meeting on the issues relating to Lough Funshinagh, it is imperative that we now see movement on the issues I highlighted on the floor of the Dáil.
“We need a comprehensive solution to the issues and not a piecemeal approach which would see home by home or farmyard by farmyard relocated over a prolonged period of time.
“I’m also disappointed to receive confirmation from Minister Eamon Ryan TD that while a 20-year reference period is being used for his international negotiations on climate change, he is sticking to a 70-year model for rainfall in the vicinity of Lough Funshinagh.
“This is disappointing in light of the fact that the last 20 years have been the wettest on record and all of the climate scientists are telling us that we will see more and heavier rainfall over the decades to come.
“Clearly this is what is being experienced on the ground by families and farmers in the vicinity of Lough Funshinagh and needs to be reflected in the flood forecast modelling,” concluded Denis Naughten.
ENDS.
Editor’s Note:
Written answers
Thursday, 21 January 2021
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Flood Risk Management
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
- To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 16 of 14 January 2021, if the rainfall data over the past decade are a more accurate indicator of future rainfall in view of projections of more significant rainfall particularly in the west of Ireland due to climatic changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3432/21]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) has been advised by Met Eireann – Ireland’s National Meteorological Service – that international best practice supports the use of longer reference periods to most accurately capture long-term climate variability. A minimum length of 20 years is generally recommended – for example, the upcoming report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will use the period 1995 – 2014 and the World Meteorological Organisations recommends 30 years.
Reference periods of 1980 – 2000 or 1980 – 2020 are commonly used both internationally and in Ireland. However, for the purposes of the GSI flood maps, with advice from Met Eireann and working with the Office of Public Works, these periods are extended forwards and backwards to capture a broader range of weather events which have impacted turloughs. As such, the reference period includes flooding that occurred within the last decade up to and including late 2019. I therefore have no plans to change the reference period.
Written answers
Thursday, 14 January 2021
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Flood Risk Management
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
- To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 237 of 10 November 2020, if, in view of the fact that the turlough is now 1.75 m higher than on 6 January 2020, he will request Geological Survey Ireland using the data collected to date to produce an updated flood risk map for Funshinagh, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2052/21]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Geological Survey Ireland’s flood mapping at Lough Funshinagh is based on a mathematical model which relates rainfall to water level. The model is calibrated using water level data from 2016 to 2019. Then, using this model, the flood map is created with rainfall data from the last 70 years which determines the probability of various flood levels occurring in the future. Current data indicates that the relationship between rainfall and water level at Lough Funshinagh has not altered. While the rainfall in 2020 was above average, remodelling with the inclusion of data from 2020 is only one additional year to the 70 already incorporated. Any alteration to the flood map would be negligible and the current flood map is therefore considered appropriate.