Minister who understands flooding invited to Mayo

OPW Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran is being invited to west Mayo to discuss flood alleviation measures in the area.

The proposal came from Louisburgh Councillor Chris Maxwell after reading media reports about the removal of silt from the Shannon to improve water flow in the river.

The minister, he said, understands what's wrong with flooding, with a campaign that has so far removed 1,100 tons of silt from the Shannon along with bushes and trees that are blocking the river.

In his own area, there was the Bunowen, Owenwee and Carrowniskey rivers, and trees are the major problem. And in the Mayour River in Westport, silt is the problem.

No one wants to take responsibility but this minister understands what's going on, said Councillor Maxwell.

“We don't want to go into another winter where people's homes and outbuildings will be flooded again because absolutely nothing has been done,” he commented.

Councillor Maxwell proposed they invite the minister down and take him on a tour of these areas and show him what's happening.

They need a minister to intervene and see what can be done and puts this to bed once and for all, he said.

The minister has to get licences and work with the relevant agencies, but he is making progress 'and that is what we need for the people of west Mayo'.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme