Cllrs concern over worsening flood events
“Eventually it's going to cost massive money to repair,” said Fine Gael's Peter McVitty, who tabled a motion at the December monthly meeting of Cavan County Council looking to discuss concerns over worsening flood events locally.
Highlighting a recent incident in the west of the county, which rendered a busy local road almost impassible, Cllr McVitty took issue with local rivers not being cleared of overgrowth as they once were.
“If they're not cleaned in 20 years, and with the amount of rain that's been, the problem has gotten serious,” he said.
Fianna Fáil's Áine Smith agreed, highlighting representations made by her late father, Sean Smith, in the past.
She said such flooding incidents risk causing road accidents, and that the debate had formed a “vicious circle”.
Fine Gael's TP O'Reilly agreed. He said it was “common sense” to have in place an incentivised scheme to encourage farmers to clear drains.
Cllr John Paul Feeley (FF) said the topic had also been discussed at Municipal District level.
He argued that access to lands is continuing to be an issue in some areas. “We know the challenges from an engineering point of view,” he said.
Sinn Féin's Paddy McDonald said the requirement for multiple agencies and authorities to sign off on such projects, such as the local authority and fisheries, is also problematic. “It's too much,” he said.
There was support to from Cllrs Patricia Walsh, Clifford Kelly (FF), Winston Bennett (FG) and Independent Brendan Fay who suggested there seemed to be “more worry about little froggies and less about people”.
'Balancing act'
Director of Services, Paddy Connaughton, said that part of the council's 2024 Budget had been allocated to each of the three Municipal District areas to appoint a technician to examine flooding issues.
He said, however, it always proves a “balancing act” between measuring potential benefit against environmental impact.
“We have to protect the environment as well as the infrastructure,” said Mr Connaughton.
Responding to the debate, Cllr McVitty said: “These people who make the rules, it's the human beings who are more important.
They can go on about climate change, but the amount of rain that's falling is serious.”