The Government has been accused of putting people's homes, businesses and farms at risk of flood damage after it failed to comply with an EU directive on flood management plans.

Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy said it is "totally unacceptable".

Mr Carthy said: "The EU Flood Directive requires each Member State to publish its Flood Risk Management Plans by March 2016.

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"In response to a question I put to the EU Commission, it has been revealed that in the Shannon region, an area where farmers and businesses have had their livelihoods washed away by heavy rain and floods, the draft Flood Risk Management Plan was only published in July.

"This is a full four months late for the draft, with consultations remaining open until the end of September and the final draft expected some months after that.

"It is totally unacceptable that this draft has been delivered so late, given the devastation caused by flooding to people living in the Shannon region."

(CD/MH)