IFA President Tim Cullinan said the lack of action taken to prevent flooding on the Shannon Callows has left farmers at a loss and fearing a potential fodder crisis this winter.
With significant levels of rainfall in the month of July, the water levels along the Shannon quickly rose. The concerns of flooding were raised by IFA with the to the OPW but enough was not done.
“The lack of action taken by the management authorities of the River Shannon is not acceptable. The damage done by the flooding is vast and now thousands of acres of silage and hay are destroyed and unsalvageable,” Tim Cullinan said.
“The concerns were raised in advance but the delay of action now has farmers across the Shannon Callows concerned for the supply of fodder this winter. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Tim Cullinan joined affected farmers and land owners at a protest today in Banagher, Co. Offaly, to highlight the damage done and the necessary actions needed to ensure this disaster is prevented for happening again.
“In the longer term, an agency must be established which would include local farmers to manage the overall Shannon project to rectify the problems and maintain it thereafter. This must be established without delay and cannot be put on the long finger anymore,” Tim Cullinan said.
