WITH summer and, hopefully, prolonged spells of dry, sunny weather ahead, the thought of floods must be the last thing on people’s minds.
Last winter’s disastrous events in many parts of the country has gone off the news radar, but the challenge of minimising the likelihood of the catastrophe recurring – and ensuring a better plan is in place to deal with such an eventuality – remains.
Chief executive of the Heritage Council, Michael Starrett, says we must plan now to avoid a repeat of the crisis with which many affected individuals, and the numerous authorities that have varying levels of responsibility for, found almost impossible to cope with.
Key question, of course, is: who is responsible? Mr Starrett rightly says there’s a need for greater clarity, not only about who does what, but who is responsible for what, and for proper accountability by the different agencies.
His views are timely. Many local authorities are currently discussing water basin catchment management plans and the Heritage Council held a seminar, recently, on the future management of the Shannon, in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.
It may be of some comfort to realise we are not the only country trying to resolve these issues, as evidenced by recent massive flooding events across Europe, especially in the Vendee, France.
Often in situations where several state agencies are involved, and many are involved in physical planning and the management of our waterways, there are calls for some sort of super-agency to take over all their authority and come up with a magical solution. With so many different agencies involved at present, the buck stops nowhere.
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president, John Bryan, has already called for a single agency to manage all our waterways.
He argued the sheer number of agencies involved in river and waterway policy, including the OPW, ESB, Waterways Ireland, fisheries boards, local authorities and National Parks and Wildlife Service, actually contributed to last winter’s flooding problems.
In any case, most people seem to agree, at this stage, that a flood management authority is needed. Mr Starrett, however, points out the situation is complex and the various agencies involved cannot be simply wished away.
A wide range of legitimate interests, also including farmers, anglers, Fáilte Ireland, and many more besides, has to be taken into account. "We definitely need far greater clarity, not only about who does what, but who is responsible for what, and for proper accountability to be rendered by the different agencies," he acknowledges.
"It is a challenging, complicated undertaking, but one that is attainable and, I believe, within our capabilities. What we really need is a new way for all the players to work more closely and effectively together. And for someone or some body to lead us to that new way."
In the wake of the controversy following approval for the M3 motorway, and the rows about its possible impact on the priceless Tara-Skryne Valley, in Co Meath, Environment Minister John Gormley tasked the Heritage Council, in partnership with his department and Meath County Council, with developing an integrated approach to manage that landscape.
By the end of this year, they aim to produce an effective management plan. It involves accommodating a broad range of stakeholders, including residents, community groups, farming interests, state agencies, academics, visitors and statutory bodies.
The Heritage Council already has extensive experience of bringing various organisations together to tackle complex and conflicting issues.
The Bere Island Conservation Plan and the Burren Life Initiative are two examples of how the council successfully coordinated the activities of different groups.
According to Mr Starrett, an initiative, already in existence, could be used as a model for coordination.
He cites a plan being finalised for the Shannon River Basin District. It involves a plethora of bodies and treats our longest river as a single entity and has a structure involving all relevant agencies, including 18 local authorities.
If they can all work together and get the desired result, there could well be a template for dealing with many other problems in the country, not least flooding.
Mr Starrett believes if enough resources are provided, the roles of various agencies can be coordinated to effectively manage waterways and give a proper response at times of flooding.
Such coordination, he goes on, could also have much broader role and optimise the economic value of a river for tourism, transport and recreational purposes.
We can only hope something will be in place if the next national flooding crisis comes.
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, May 03, 2010
