Ballyconnell/Ballinamore drainage budget must be kept separate – Cllr

The importance of monitoring the drainage in the Ballyconnell-Ballinamore area and ring fencing funding for same was raised at the recent meeting of Belturbet Cavan MD meeting in the Townhall in Belturbet.

Cllr Sean Smith highlighted the issue. He pointed out that, when the canal restoration works took place, the board that looked after drainage was disbanded and Cavan County Council was then charged with the responsibility of the maintenance works.

Cllr Smith explained how it was stipulated that the local authority would have to provide for the drainage works in a budget every year and carry out necessary maintenance.

“I am concerned that this is not happening at the moment, so I am asking for this Municipal District to ensure the Ballyconnell and Ballinamore Drainage District would be retained as a separate entity. Over the years, it had been very successful and works were carried out on an annual basis. Drains were viewed and maintained on a six-year rota basis,” he outlined.

Cllr Smith said that excellent work had been done by Cavan County Council. He added however: “We live beside Cuilcagh. Some of the water would come from Cuilcagh and will flow through part of Leitrim and then down to the flood gates that are quite close to where I live. Those flood gates divert the water to Ballymacgovern into the Shannon Erne. This is a very serious drainage district that requires permanent monitoring.

“I am asking that the budget originally set aside for this maintenance works be kept separate and intact in the drainage fund,” urged the Bawnboy man.

This proposal was seconded by Cllr Peter McVitty (FG) and he further pointed out that outlets from lakes can become blocked and lead to major flooding incidents.

He said that, as far as he could recall, the Drainage Committee was disbanded in 2014. “As elected representatives, we were on that committee down through the years and we knew exactly what work was going to be done and it was carried out to the best of the ability of the people carrying out the works at the time,” said Cllr McVitty.

The Senior Executive Engineer, Paul Mulligan, noted that the proposal had been put forward and seconded at the meeting and assured the members that the budget in question will be kept separate for those maintenance works.

Cllr Smith thanked Mr Mulligan for his clarity in relation to the matter. He added that the budget in question is never big money but the funding is most important to tackle those serious flooding issues on an ongoing basis.