Livestock at risk due to uncleaned rivers - Mayo councillor

THE risk to livestock due to rivers not being cleaned has been highlighted by Kilmeena-based Councillor Johnny O'Malley.

A farmer in another part of the county lost two cattle where water was high and they were took downstream.

He was lucky to just lose two, with other stock 'jaded' after their successful attempts to get out, he said.

It wouldn't have happened if the river was cleaned, he submitted.

Councillor O'Malley asked for rivers in his own area of Carrowholly to be cleaned, saying sheep had similarly been lost.

He explained they didn't want the rivers dug out, just trees and grass removed to let the water flow.

People were worried about wildlife, he said, but they would look after themselves. If cleaned by sections, the works wouldn't do anything to the wildlife.

The councillor was told the river in his area flows into the Clew Bay SAC. An appropriate assessment would have to be done and submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

Removing trees above the river line would be looked at in conjunction with the fisheries. It wasn't as simple as going down with a machine and clearing it out.