Immediate solutions – not more studies – needed to address flooding – Naughten

In Environment, News by Denis Naughten

Denis Naughten has described the impact of flooding on local homes and businesses after the severe rainfall as a result of Storm Desmond as “devastating”.
“Since the last serious flooding in 2009 we have had some remedial works, and these are welcome, but many more were postponed pending the completion of consultants’ reports and the CFRAMS flood study,” stated Denis Naughten.

“We have also seen delays in getting pumps and sand bags distributed to flood prone communities due to delays by the national co-ordinating committee in providing appropriate warnings to local authorities.

“There is no doubt that council staff, emergency services, the Gardai, the army, civil defence, red cross, staff from the Office of Public Works, the farming community and local communities themselves have done tremendous work over the last number of days since flood waters started to rise, but pre-planning would have helped to improve the effectiveness of these responses.

“We have now seen two ‘100 year floods’ in the last six years and sadly we are by no means out of the woods this winter yet,” warned Denis Naughten.

“We need to see real action on the ground from the Office of Public Works that can have an impact on the scale and frequency of flooding of communities in Counties Roscommon, Galway, Leitrim, Longford and Westmeath.

“Since the 2009 flooding I have worked continuously to try to have practical steps taken to address local flooding problems; however we have been knocked back on many occasions on the basis that we are waiting on the CFRAM modelling.

“The time for studies is over, we need action immediately to cover the cost for those who were unable to secure flood insurance and we need to see practical solutions implemented without delay,” concluded Denis Naughten.