A Roscommon senator has described the continued designation of a flooded turlough in the county as a Special Area of Conservation as a "joke".
Eugene Murphy made the comments as he raised growing concern over water levels at Lough Funshinagh following a special meeting of the Athlone Municipal District this week.
On Monday, members were told that there is no cost effective or sustainable solutions to alleviate flooding at the so called 'disappearing lake'.
A special report also claimed that the installation of a pipe, costing approximately €1.5million, would also be damaging to the local environment as the area is a designated SAC
The Fianna Fail Senator thinks there is now no wildlife or plant life to save due to rising water levels: