SHANNON:MINISTER FOR the Environment John Gormley has acknowledged there is serous concern among local authorities in the midwest over how the region will cope with record water levels on the Shannon river over the coming days.
Further serious flooding along the lower Shannon looks almost certain, with high tides due early next week set to raise the already record water levels by a metre.
Mr Gormley was speaking during a visit to the midwest yesterday, where he inspected some of the areas worst affected by the past week’s flooding.
“The big issue for us at the moment is next week, when the tides are going to rise by about a metre, and that’s what is of most concern to the agencies down here in Limerick and in Clare, and we are trying to monitor that situation and predict what the consequences of that will be,” he said.
“You can be assured of one thing: the agencies in the area are on top of the situation and are monitoring it as best as possible,” he continued.
Mr Gormley arrived in Limerick after getting an aerial view of the flooded areas of Gort, Ennis and the east Clare region by helicopter. “If you look at the broad expanse that has been flooded, it looks like a huge lake, and it’s really a miracle that more people were not affected,” he said.
During his visit to Limerick, the Minister also sought to reassure locals that the dam at Ardnacrusha weir has the ability to withstand the unprecedented volume of water in the system.
Householders across the lower Shannon, particularly in areas such as Montpelier and Castleconnell, were on high alert last night following the release of more water by the ESB at lunchtime yesterday, which caused water levels to rise by another three inches.