Farmers up demand for single flood authority to manage river flood levels
The Irish Farmers Association and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association have repeatedly called for the creation of a single river agency.
IFA Flood Protection Project Team chairman Tom Turley urged all politicians to support the call it has made.
“After the severe impact of the recent flooding, it would provide some comfort to householders, businesses and landowners who have been so badly affected by rising water levels,” he said.
Mr Turley also set out a number of measures that could alleviate the situation for those who have been impacted by the flooding.
“The Government should suspend the property tax for those householders who have seen their homes badly damaged as a result of the flooding.
"As a gesture, the ESB should waive their bills for those householders,” he said.
Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association president John Comer said he is very disappointed at the Government’s failure to grasp the need for one state agency to address the problem.
It is clear, at this stage, that the agendas of some national and EU agencies is taking priority over people’s needs.
“Irish rivers have been totally mismanaged to the point that they are clogged up and cannot handle flood waters.
"What people need is a long-term solution to this problem which will require dredging and not the necessary fire brigade actions we are seeing now,” he said.
