Call for maintenance programme for county rivers and canals

That's according to Ballinasloe area councillor Dermot Connolly who claims there are trees, dirt and silt blocking a section of the River Suck.

Flood defence works are already underway across Ballinasloe including the provision of flood eyes at the East Bridge, replacing the bridge at Caltragh and replacing a stone culvert in Glenaslat.

However, Cllr. Dermot Connolly says maintenance of the rivers needs to be a priority.

Meanwhile the Department of the Environment is to consider a proposal passed at this months meeting of the local authority to exempt flooded houses from the property tax.

Councillor Connolly says many families are still re-building their lives after homes were destroyed in the floods.