IFA chief calls for single flood agency

A SINGLE agency should be responsible for finding solutions to flooding problems and for managing and maintaining the country’s waterways.

The call was made by Irish Farmers Association president John Bryan at a forum on flood management in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, yesterday. It followed the recent floods that caused havoc countrywide, especially in the Shannon River basin.

Mr Bryan welcomed an announcement by Minister of State Martin Mansergh, who attended the meeting, that legislation would be introduced shortly giving the Office of Public Works the role of lead agency.

The IFA leader said this is urgently needed, but it must not delay action on what is a very serious problem, He said the overwhelming view of the 700 people at the meeting was that a single agency with full responsibility and authority should be established immediately.

“This agency must have responsibility for all waterways in the country, with the specific remit of carrying out essential maintenance on our river network so that the damage caused to farmland and households can be avoided in future,” he said

Mr Bryan said the agency must take account of the views of local people and be given adequate resources to have a real and lasting impact in dealing with flooding.

“The current situation where over half a dozen agencies have a say inwater levels, and some have a veto on whether remedial works go ahead, is untenable. The failures of the past must not be allowed continue and it is up to the Government to address this issue once and for all,” he said.

Mr Bryan said the plethora of agencies involved in river and waterway policy – OPW, ESB, Waterways Ireland, fisheries boards, local authorities and the National Parks and Wildlife Service – contributed to the recent flooding problems.

“An effective flood management programme implemented by a single agency would go a long way towards alleviating the problems associated with flooding, and would be much a more cost-effective solution for the Government.

“The persistent failure to maintain our waterways over the last 30 years has created hardship for thousands of farm families and rural dwellers. Successive governments have not dealt with this issue and landowners have suffered the consequences of their inertia,” he said

Mr Bryan also said the Government must change the policy that attempts to protect towns and cities only. This policy is imposing severe hardship on people living and working in rural areas who depend on the countryside for their livelihoods.