High Shannon Water Levels Must Be Addressed

According to figures released by the ESB today the levels on the River Shannon are 16 inches higher than they were this time last year and that is a very worrying turn of events and the levels have actually gone up since June and I also note that this is the situation allowing for the fact that two gates are open in Athlone. I have issued statements on the flooding situation in the past week and have attended a number of public meeting on the issue. It is a matter of some urgency that the levels of water on the Shannon are lowered or we are facing even more problems during the coming winter with regard to flooding and I am calling on the relevant agencies to do whatever needed to reduce water levels immediately. If we don’t address this matter then we will be heading for serious flooding problems in the area again this coming winter”\.