FG: Parlon two-faced over flooding

MINISTER of State Tom Parlon has come under fire over the Government’s response to flooding in the Midlands, with Fine Gael accusing him of being “two-faced.”

Up to 70,000 acres of farmland are under water in counties Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Leitrim, and Galway, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), following weeks of extremely wet weather which caused the River Shannon and some tributaries to flood.

Fine Gael agriculture spokesperson Denis Naughten said yesterday that the Government had wasted five years by doing little to prevent flooding from the Shannon.

“Mr Parlon has been messing about with this issue for the last five years, producing a report and getting opinions on that report and yet no decision has been taken in relation to carrying out this type of maintenance work.”

The last major flooding incident in the Midlands was in late 2000, when Mr Parlon was IFA president.

“At the time,” said Mr Naughten yesterday, “he lectured politicians over their lack of action on carrying out maintenance of the River Shannon. Later, he became Minister of State in the OPW (Office of Public Works) and his whole attitude changed overnight.”

Mr Parlon visited Shannon Harbour in west Offaly on Saturday and defended the OPW’s record on developing flood relief schemes.

Mr Naughten said the minister was “a bit two-faced at the moment”, after criticising the Government over flooding while leader of the IFA.

Current IFA president Padraig Walshe has said there is an “urgent need” for a Shannon Relief Scheme to alleviate flooding conditions in the midlands.

Mr Walshe was speaking following a visit to farmland near Athlone which was subject to severe flooding in the past number of weeks.

The IFA president said the recurring problems must be tackled in a coordinated way, with particular emphasis on forcing the ESB to lower water levels in Lough Derg.

“There needs to be dredging done in the parts of the river that have silted, weirs and channels must be cleaned and river margins banked in certain areas,” he added.

The flooding is causing real problems for farmers and requires immediate attention, according to Mr Walshe. “Cattle sheds have nearly two feet of water and some farmers have to move stock to be housed elsewhere. Winter fodder is also under threat.”

He said he would be pressing Mr Parlon to bring forward a relief scheme as soon as possible.

“High water on local roads is adding to the difficulties and leading to economic and humanitarian problems.”

According to Met Éireann, the worst of the recent bout of wet weather is over for the moment. Little rain is expected in the coming week as conditions turn frosty and cold.