Laois flood update: Disruptions continue in Portarlington following heavy flooding

As Laois continues to deal with the impact of the severe flooding from over the weekend, Cllr Aidan Mullins has said that the Flood Relief Scheme for Portarlington, one of the worst affected towns in the county, is still years away. 

Portarlington faced major flooding this weekend following days of heavy rainfall, despite no rain warning being issued for Laois or Offaly. 

The flooding in the town has "eased quite a bit" according to an update from Cllr Mullins to Leinster Express / Laois Live on Monday morning, November 17.

The Independent councillor said that there is currently two main points of concern with the flooding in Portarlington and that is Botley Lane off Patrick Street as well as Spa Street near Market Square.

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Cllr Mullins explained that Botley Lane is still blocked and closed to traffic, however the flooding on Patrick Street at the entrance of the lane has eased.

He said that Spa Street is now clear and there is no water on the road as of Monday morning as council staff are there with a water pump.

Despite much of the flooding now being under control, frustrations are high with the lack of infrastructure to protect Portarlington from such levels of flooding as well as the disruption and damage caused by it.

Independent Republican TD, Brian Stanley has called for progress to be accelerated with the Flood Relief Schemes for Portarlington and Mountmellick given the flooding that occurred on Friday and their high risk of future flooding.

Deputy Stanley said: "It’s simply not good enough that the OPW projections are that the Mountmellick Scheme could take another 6 to 7 years for completion of construction works, and an even longer period of time in the case of Portarlington."

Cllr Mullins agreed, saying: "It is so slow and the bureaucratic hold up with the whole system in Ireland with infrastructure is absolutely shocking."

He acknowledged that by the time consultants and environmental reports and plans are formed, "years and years are wasted while communities are suffering."

He continued: "Obviously because Mountmellick is up river, they have to be phase one of the whole project. A couple of years in now and there's still no noticeable movement other than reports being prepared and plans.

"Portarlington is years down the line and we're going to have to suffer this annual flooding event until something happens."

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