Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith expressed his serious concerns to the Office of Public Works, Cavan County Council and the ESB following extensive flooding in the Crossdoney/Farnham/Killeshandra areas.

Deputy Smith met with Senior Management at the ESB on Thursday to discuss water level controls on the River Erne at Belleek and Ballyshannon.

“Once again we have a situation where residents and businesses in these areas have been impacted by flood waters.  Homes have been badly damaged and people’s possessions ruined and many will be forced to spend the next few days and weeks cleaning up the aftermath.  For others, their businesses have been hit and they’ll be unable to trade in the busy period coming up to Christmas.  It is a terrible situation for people to be left in”, explained Deputy Smith.

“It is extremely important that the Office of Public Works work along with Cavan County Council to carry out the necessary drainage and remedial works to address these flooding issues.

“At the meeting yesterday, ESB management assured me that they have taken the necessary actions to control the level of water on the Erne system to the greatest extent possible in order to ease the flooding problems in the River Erne catchment area.  The safe discharge of flood waters needs constant vigilance and attention and is critical in trying to ease flooding problems in areas in County Cavan near the source of the Erne River system.”