THE call went out for the Office of Public Works (OPW) to expedite flood relief schemes for the “second class citizens” in Abbeyfeale and Athea in County Limerick.
Fine Gael councillor Liam Galvin said that with serious flooding hitting the east of the country already in recent months, he would hate to see what would have happened if it had been closer to home in West Limerick.
“The plans for this are sitting on somebody’s desk. I brought it to Boxer Moran’s attention but I am asking this office to write to the relevant minister to have the Athea scheme in the pipeline, it’s around a long time and nothing is happening,” Cllr Galvin told the March Newcastle West area meeting.
The Abbeyfeale flood relief scheme, the Fine Gael man insisted, should also be a priority for the OPW with floodwaters recently coming through Abbeyfeale United FC’s grounds.
“It did a lot of damage. The mart was flooded. Three private residences were affected by it. The following day there was ministers ringing and calling and they were out in their wellingtons posing for cameras,” Cllr Galvin said.
He is now urging Government departments to draw up a flood relief scheme in Abbeyfeale from the Mart Bridge towards the rear of the soccer club’s grounds. Galvin also asked the council executive to request the OPW to assist with the dredging of the River Feale.
“The reason I am putting this on the agenda is there’s a €500,000 investment in the soccer pitch in the coming months. It’s going to be our only all-weather astro-turf pitch in Abbeyfeale. There’s not much point in putting in a €500,000 investment if the next flood is going to come in over the field. That’s not what we want,” he said.
“Someone needs to stand up here and sort all this. I acknowledge the work the Council are doing but I would ask for your support, as God forbid if the rain that flooded the east of this country hits those towns again. I don’t want to be responsible for that.”
Cllr John Sheahan (FG) claimed that a flood relief scheme was now underway in Listowel, County Kerry, after the town was affected by flooding only a year-and-a-half ago.
“There’s something amiss with the way we’re being treated. We seem to be second class citizens when it comes to these items. The OPW have a remit on the River Feale and we’re all the same citizens,” Cllr Sheahan suggested.
The Council said that the preferred option for the Athea flood relief scheme has been submitted to the OPW for formal approval. The local authority also pointed out that it has regularly requested updates on the status of the proposed scheme and have been informed that it still remains under review.
– Local Democracy Reporting Scheme