MIDWEST:WITH THE river Shannon at an "all-time high", the ESB has warned of increased flooding on the lower reaches, which will affect the midwest over the next few days.
Discharges of water from Parteen weir were increased again yesterday, following confirmation that water levels in Lough Derg had risen significantly.
Further upriver, the south Galway town of Portumna remained “on alert”, while many parts of south Galway, including Gort’s Crowe Street, Kiltartan and parts of Ardrahan and surrounding areas are under water.
Water levels eased sufficiently in Ballinasloe over the past 24 hours to facilitate the reopening of the main bridge over the river Suck, but gardaí warned that River Street was still under water.
The town and surrounds were also still subject to a boil-water notice.
More than 180 Defence Forces staff deployed across the west, south and midlands were continuing to provide emergency assistance and were delivering sandbags in Gort, Ennis and Ballinasloe.
Galway East Fianna Fáil TD Noel Treacy called for a national application to be made to the European Commission for support from the European Solidarity Fund, following “the unprecedented damage” caused.
The Irish Farmers’ Association held an emergency meeting in Gort last night, amid concerns that communities in isolated areas were receiving little or no assistance due to stretched resources.
The association said it wished to do what it could to help farmers and the wider community.
Some schools reopened yesterday but transport was still severely disrupted.
The M6 Ballinasloe to Galway motorway remained open on a temporary basis at two sections.
Pressure on the only route from north Galway into the city, via the N84, was eased yesterday when one lane of the N17 Galway-Sligo route reopened at Claregalway.
Labour Party councillor Colm Keaveney described as “beyond belief” an instruction by local authorities to part-time fire fighters not to respond to calls from members of their communities.
“The retained fire fighters form the backbone of the emergency services all around the country, particularly in small towns, villages and rural areas,” he said.
HSE West yesterday encouraged people experiencing hardship due to the unprecedented flooding in Co Galway in recent days to phone the community welfare officer in their local health centre. It said an appointment will be arranged “as quickly as possible”.
Exceptional-needs payments can be made to people on social welfare or HSE payments; alternatively, an urgent-needs payment can be made to people who have suffered flood damage, but would not normally be entitled to social welfare.
The urgent-needs payments can assist with food, clothing and household goods. Payments are means tested, and subject to assessment by community welfare officers, the HSE West said.
Irish Coast Guard (ICG) crews were continuing to monitor water levels on the Shannon last night.
ICG’s Killaloe unit, which has received support from volunteers with the Doolin unit in Co Clare, has been surveying the riverbank area from O’Brien’s Bridge and Castleconnell to Limerick University, which has been identified as vulnerable.
However, Michael Quigley of ICG Killaloe said spring tides and heavy rain could make for a “peak situation” over the weekend and into early next week.
The ESB has said it has no option but to reduce pressure on Lough Derg if a “catastrophic” flooding on the 35km Shannon stretch which it controls to Limerick is to be averted.
It has been spilling water for some days at Parteen, and has been liaising with an inter-agency group involving the four local authorities directly affected.