Denis Naughten will ask the Taoiseach in the Dáil this Wednesday to directly intervene in the current humanitarian crisis faced by eight families in Ballagh & Lisphelim area of South Roscommon.

 

Deputy Naughten along with 6 other TDs from across the country have tabled a Dáil motion seeking the establishment of cross-departmental and cross-agency task force to address emergency climate adaptation measures to protect homes nationwide, the content of which will be raised directly with the Taoiseach.

 

“The motion which was drafted on foot of correspondence from Roscommon County Council to the Government seeks a number of reforms to the current legislation, without which the only option that may be open to families facing the threat of flooding, where works impact on a designated habitat, is to have the homes demolished and the families relocated,” stated Denis Naughten.

“I will be asking the Taoiseach to establish a national taskforce and set as the first item on the agenda the authorisation of flood alleviation works at Lough Funshinagh, Co. Roscommon, as a case study” concluded Denis Naughten

 

 

Copy of Dáil motion:

 

 

 

That Dáil Éireann recognises

 

-the very serious humanitarian crisis faced by eight families in Ballagh & Lisphelim, Co. Roscommon;

 

– the significant threat to eight properties, eight businesses, and some 300 hectares of farmland;

 

And as a result of the significant flooding threat due to the lake levels at Lough Funshinagh, Co. Roscommon, calls on the Government to

 

– establish as a matter of urgency a cross-departmental and cross-agency task force to address emergency climate adaptation measures to protect homes throughout the country;

 

– set as the first item on the agenda of this task force the authorisation of flood alleviation works at Lough Funshinagh, Co. Roscommon, as a case study;

 

– set out a clear procedure for the repeal of EU habitats designations where they are no longer applicable;

 

– remove the EU habitats designation on Lough Funshinagh, Co. Roscommon, which is no longer, if ever, a turlough;

 

– amend the Planning and Development Acts and the Local Government Act 2001 to make clear what freedom the State considers a Local Authority should have to deliver an urgent solution to an emergency situation that requires immediate action;

 

– amend the Local Authority (Works) Act 1949 to ensure that the legislation is effective for the purpose of EU law on the assessment of the impact on the environment and/or habitats;

 

– provide formal guidance to all competent authorities on whether adaptation by displacement of homeowners should be considered as a “feasible solution” when contemplating any adverse effect on the integrity of a European site;

 

– amend the protection from legal costs to ensure that the State is not more generous than that required under EU law;

 

And further calls on the Government to ensure pumps, fuel, and personnel are in place to prevent homes from flooding around Lough Funshinagh while the task force completes its work.

 

Denis Naughten, Sean Canney, Michael Fitzmaurice, Marian Harkin ,Verona Murphy, Matt Shanaghan