THE government has been urged to enact the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme for Dromcollogher after last week’s flash flooding.
Sinn Féin Senator Joanne Collins made the call after spending a day with residents and businesses affected by the devastating flood.
Footage shared across social media in the aftermath of the flooding showed Dromcollogher locals standing bewildered in knee-high waters.
Limerick City and County Council responded to the shock flooding incident after receiving worried calls to its emergency phone line, with crews from the Limerick Fire and Rescue Service, based at Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale, and Rathkeale, deployed to provide assistance.
Flooding was at its highest around the Dromcollogher Respite Centre, where a coordinated pumping operation was established. It is understood that some residents were evacuated from the centre by worried members of their families.
It is also understood that as many as 20 homes were damaged in the town due to the flash flooding on Sunday July 20.
“I have written to the Minister for Social Protection requesting that the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme be activated without delay to provide assistance to these families,” Senator Collins told the Limerick Post.
She also highlighted the “remarkable community spirit” that has emerged in the face of this disaster, but stressed that community resilience needs to be met with immediate government support.
During her visit, Senator Collins expressed shock over numerous warnings given by residents and local agencies in recent years. She claimed that many raised concerns about flooding risks as recently as last year, but their warnings went largely unheeded by relevant authorities.
“It is shocking to hear that various agencies and State actors were contacted by residents who were already predicting the flooding that occurred last week. Many residents had raised concerns last year, yet no substantial action was taken. This flooding should not have happened, and certainly not at this scale,” Senator Collins remarked.
“I will be requesting a full review of the town’s flood defence measures as an urgent priority to prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Senator Collins suggested the long-term impact of the flooding will be felt by the entire community for months to come.
“The State must stand alongside the people of Dromcollogher, just as the community has stood strong in the face of adversity,” she said.
