Attending the launch of today’s Flood Risk Management Plans in Athlone, IFA Flood Project Team Chairman Padraic Joyce said the progress was welcome, but farmland impacted by flooding has to be part of the plans.
The CFRAMS cannot focus on urban areas alone and has to be extended to provide flood risk management plans for farmers and householders in rural areas.
Padraic Joyce said the timeline for the completion of a project is too long and the Minister has to work with all agencies to get work done more quickly.
He welcomed the increase in the Minor Works Scheme from €3m to €5m annually. Along with new criteria for cost/benefit analysis, this should ensure projects which were on the long finger can now be supported.
The Chairman of the IFA Project Team also called for a farmyard relocation scheme to be put in place. It would facilitate farmers who want to move their farmyard to land which will not flood. IFA will be meeting the Minister for the OPW Kevin Moran on this shortly.
