Major Flooding Conference - September 26th

A major flooding conference for the Roscommon / Galway area is set to take place on Monday, September 26th in the Percy French Hotel in Strokestown. The event has been organised by Fianna Fail TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy who is also the party’s spokesperson on the OPW and Flood Relief.

A comprehensive list of speakers will address a range of issues including topics such as potential flood defence options and understanding the unique network of turloughs which are specific to the region. The conference has been organised in response to the potential flooding challenges that homeowners, members of the farming community and general public face heading into the winter months. 

The main expert speaker will be Professor Paul Johnson an esteemed hydrologist from Trinity College Dublin who has studied the karst limestone area of counties Roscommon and Galway with specific expertise on the turlough systems. Mr Johnson is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and he has been investigating and studying turloughs and the issues of flooding and hydro-ecology for many years dating back to before the flooding of 1995 in South Galway. He has also been involved with recent flooding issues in Dysart and Four Roads. Professor Johnston has been a consultant to several bodies, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and also has given evidence to the Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

The Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief Sean Canney and Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources Denis Naughten have also been invited to attend the conference.

Other speakers will include Eugene Dwyer, Senior Engineer with Roscommon County Council who will give a unique insight into flood relief works underway in the county as well as highlighting the range of works and levels of funding which are required to adequately address flooding issues. The Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council Cllr Michael Connolly is also expected to be in attendance.

Deputy Murphy said: “Areas like Lough Funshinagh, Dysart and Castleplunkett were severely hit in the winter floods, with many farmers only getting back on their feet in the last number of weeks.  They cannot afford another winter like 2015 – they simply won’t survive- The aim of the conference is to get answers to some of the outstanding questions in relation to flooding and also to gain an understanding of suggested solutions.” The conference follows on last week from the launch of a new bill, the ESB Supply (Management of River Shannon) Bill 2016 by Deputy Murphy which aims to tackle River Shannon flooding.

The conference will run from 9.30am. to 2pm. in the Percy French Hotel, Strokestown on Monday, September 26^th. Light refreshments will be served. This conference is free of charge and open to all members of the public to attend but interested persons are asked to please register their interest in advance by contacting Deputy Murphy’s constituency office on 071 9633000 or emailing Eugene.murphy@oireachtas.ie in order to accommodate expected numbers.