The Government has been called on to take urgent action on the impact recent heavy rains and flooding has had on farmland by IFA president Tim Cullinan.

An immediate assessment of damage to determine losses and a financial aid package was needed, Cullinan said.

“The fact that insufficient action has been taken to manage the River Shannon is a contributory factor in the current flooding crisis. I met farmers in Longford in the last week and they raised the problem of the levels in the River Shannon.

With better monitoring, we could avoid some of the problems we have now

“With better monitoring, we could avoid some of the problems we have now.”

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is to visit affected areas on Monday and while Cullinan welcomed the move, he said there was an element of trying “to close the stable door after the horse had bolted”.

“We need real action to protect farmers and other members of these communities,” the IFA president said.

Havoc

The severe rainfall had created havoc on farms and made working conditions very difficult, according to IFA Connacht regional chair Pat Murphy.

He called on the Government to co-ordinate an emergency plan to alleviate the situation.

Longer term, Murphy said: “The Government need[s] an overall strategy to tackle the flooding issue which has affected areas such as the Shannon catchment area and other river areas throughout the country.”

He said all the various authorities needed to be brought together to ensure there was joined-up thinking on the actions required to address the issue.

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