Council undertakes various schemes to address flood risks
Mayo County Council is involved in a number of schemes to mitigate flood risks, a meeting of the council's Environment Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) has been told.
Tom McDonnell, Regional Coordinator for Climate Action, told members of the SPC that the council has looked at flood risk areas within the county under a programme run in tandem with the Office of Public Works (OPW). He said several schemes are currently being looked at in Mayo to address the threat of flooding in areas such as Crossmolina, Ballina and The Neale. The scheme are intended to protect hundreds of existing and new properties through the use of measures such as walls, plazas and embankments. In some cases, lands are being compulsorily acquired.
Mr McDonnell cited project examples such as Cois Abhainn and Ashwood housing estates along the Carrowbeg River in Westport where 36 properties were protected at a cost of €1.6 million. He said the council is currently working on a sizeable scheme at The Neale, affecting many properties there, which is expected to cost between €8 and €9 million.
“This is about moving water from one turlough to another and on to the Cross River and then Lough Corrib,” he explained.
Other schemes are also being looked at in Westport Town, Louisburgh, Swinford and Foxford, with the council seeking to source grants under various programmes to suit the works involved, such as the OPW Minor Works Scheme. Over the last five years, quite a few such works have been carried out, including in Carrowholly, Cong, Glenhest School and Bohola village.
Westport councillor Cllr Peter Flynn said it was clearly a complex area of study, adding: “There is no quick-fix solution to flooding and so it is time for this mantra that has been going around to end that clearing trees and debris from rivers is all we need to do. There is much more to it and it is important we are all educated on that.”
