Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of Lough Funshinagh. Deputy O'Donnell, in his new role as Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, visited County Roscommon and the communities that are heavily impacted. There is utter devastation for the families who have been impacted by the flooding. They are losing homes, land, farms and roads. Around Curraghboy, for example, a road is flooded and there is no access for local people. This is the result of climate change in County Roscommon and it is having a massive impact on the people there. It has been crucial that An Taoiseach, Simon Harris, has taken this as a priority and ensured attention has been paid, but if there is to be any solution, it has to happen in the coming months. The challenge is that this is a turlough and a special area of conservation, but there has been such a high level of rainfall this year. We know that from the farming crisis and the fodder issues we are facing. It is a level of rainfall that is making it impossible to protect any of these places. We need some action to be done here in order that we can protect the conservation objectives of an SAC as well as families and livestock, because nothing is being protected at the moment. It is crucial that we see some possibility and hope for communities in this area.