Gildernew pays tribute to Fermanagh flooding recovery efforts

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has visited Erneside Shopping Centre in Enniskillen to witness the flooding disruption in the area.

During the visit she praised the flood emergency response to ongoing flooding problems in County Fermanagh. Rivers Agency has been working with the Electricity Supply Board to ensure that Lough levels were drawn down to the lowest permissible level in October 2009, to provide maximum storage during the winter months. Since 5 November the outflow channel has also been operating at maximum capacity. However, in spite of this proactive management the sheer amount of rainfall has resulted in the highest Lough levels on record. Rivers Agency has been co-ordinating its efforts with other responders and all the government authorities remain on high alert.

At the scene at Erneside, Minister Gildernew said: "The extreme flooding which has particularly impacted upon County Fermanagh in recent days has created great inconvenience to people across the county and authorities are making every effort to manage the threat posed by the highest levels recorded on Lough Erne. My Rivers Agency staff have been working with other responders to help keep damage and disruption to a minimum.

"Over the last month water levels in Lough Erne have been rising and are continuing to rise to these exceptional levels. My thoughts are with everyone effected and my heart goes out to those whose day to day business has been upset, particularly local schoolchildren whose education has been disrupted. Everything that is possible is being done to manage the situation but it must be remembered that we are dealing with very significant volumes of water in the Loughs and it will take time for water levels to fall.”

Discussing moves to help cope with incidents like this in the future, the Minister said: "In the days ahead my officials will undertake a speedy review of this flooding incident. Under the EU Floods Directive, Rivers Agency are required to undertake flood risk plans across the north of Ireland in conjunction with our southern counterparts. As a result of the current situation the timescale for Lough Erne will now be brought forward."

The Minister added: " Any member of the public with concerns should contact the emergency Flooding Incident Line on 0300 2000 100 and useful advice and information on what to do in the event of flooding can also be obtained online at the NI Direct website.

“The combined efforts of the emergency services, my own Rivers Agency staff, Roads Service, local councils and NI Water to assist those affected are a credit and I wish to express my sincere thanks to all of them.

"We are all working very closely in the Executive to ensure that everything that can be done will be done for those badly affected by the latest flooding incidents, and I've spoken directly to the DFP Minister to stress, that despite the current economic climate, it is vital that flood alleviation is kept an Executive priority."

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