OPW Minister Patrick O' Donovan says he hasn't forgotten about the plight of people living around Lough Funshinagh, but he can't be expected to have an instant solution either.
The Minister was reacting to recent criticism from Roscommon councillor Donal Kilduff who said he had been 'dismayed and disappointed' after no solution was talked about when Patrick O' Donovan met with the council last month.
The OPW Minister says he actually visited Lough Funshinagh residents again last week after he had been attending a flood forum meeting in Carrick-on-Shannon.
He says it's not realistic to expect an instant decision on what to do next for the residents living around the lake and it's something that will take time and consultation.
Actually on my way home from Carrick on Shannon last Thursday I called to Lough Funshinagh, and I called to some of the residents there, unannounced, on my way home...and I haven't forgotten the residents of Lough Funshinagh, and I'm not going to forget the residents of Lough Funshinagh, so while some people might want to make political points about this I've no notion of getting involved in political point scoring about it...
And what I said to the residents is what I said to the councillors when I met them , I have to reflect on what the courts have made a determination on , as a government Minister I have to reflect on that, and I have to reflect on it with other government departments.
