Flood risk affecting 229 properties in Donegal Town and Killybegs

Two hundred and twenty-nine business and residential properties in Donegal Town and Killybegs were at risk from flooding and people in both towns were living in fear of the next big storm event.

A series of storms over the past number of years have already caused havoc, destroyed property, and wrecked homes and according to two local councillors, more of the same was predicted unless emergency cash was pumped into flood relief schemes.

The problems were aired at last Monday's meeting of Donegal County Council in Lifford where Cllr Noel Jordan tabled a motion calling for an update on the applications for Flood Relief Schemes in Donegal with specific emphasis on the south of the county where, he said, householders and businesses live in fear in such flood risk areas.

Cllr Jordan said the Office of Public Works (OPW) allocated funding for a number of schemes in 2019 and while some went ahead in the north and north-east of the county there was disappointment in the south due to the fact a number were still waiting for funding namely Killybegs, Rossnowlagh and Brookfield and particularly Donegal Town.

"Last year was the only one in the past six that there hasn't been a flooding incident in Donegal Town. The CEFRAM (Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management) identified Donegal Town as being susceptible to all types of flooding, fluvial (river floods) pluvial (surface water floods) coastal, rivers overtopping, flash flooding, high tides and storm surges."

He added once winter comes people started asking about the money they were supposed to get for the flood relief scheme.

"I know the scheme and the funding are going to be substantial but it is important urgency is maintained. There were three major flooding events between Storm Abigail in November 2015 which caused substantial damage to a huge number of residential and commercial properties. Storm Desmond came in December of the same year and these houses and businesses were flooded again.

"It's a scene I don't want to go back to; going into homes and seeing toys floating about the floor. The residents were trying to save what they had by taking it upstairs and as everyone knows the insurance will only cover one of these incidents. These people had to rebuild their lives after what happened, it was horrific. We had another huge episode with Hurricane Lorenzo in October 2019 and we all wondered when was this going to end and when will we get the resources to put things right."

Cllr Jordan said the CFRAM report predicted that the worst was yet to come for Donegal Town.

"They are predicting 75 properties will be at flood risk in Donegal Town. You can't do the flood relief work here in bit parts because if you do you will move the problem further toward town. It's urgent to highlight we need this funding," he added.

Seconding the motion Cllr Niamh Kennedy said she understood over 150 premises in Donegal Town and 79 in Killybegs would be affected so it's really serious, she said.

Director of Water and Environment for the council, Michael McGarvey said they would write to the minister on this matter. He added the council's senior management had already met him on this matter and made a strong case for this and a number of schemes to be advanced.

"We got very good engagement and received strong indications but it might be premature to say anything further at this stage. We will be following up on this with the OPW too.,” he said.