River dredging needed to tackle 'major problem' with flooding in Laois

A number of issues with the quality and maintenance of the county's rivers were raised by councillors at the November meeting of the Portlaoise MD.

Councillor Paddy Buggy presented a motion that the council invite Uisce Éireann to a full council meeting to discuss what measures they are taking to improve the water quality within Laois' rivers.

Cllr Buggy said that farmers are doing their part in ensuring the water quality of rivers are maintained, but there are more parties involved, particularly Uisce Éireann.

During the discussion, Cllr Buggy opened up the broader issue with rivers, saying "we're going to have to bite the bullet" when it comes to dredging rivers. He argued that the build up of debris in rivers is exacerbating the flooding in Laois by causing water to spill out into surrounding fields.

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Cllr Buggy told the council: "About five acres of my land was flooded last week because the Triogue was full of debris and silt."

However, Director of Services at Laois County Council, Simon Walton, explained that dredging rivers and their general maintenance is more complex from a legal standpoint. 

He said "local authorities are only responsible for certain stretches of rivers where those stretches of rivers are drainage districts." Mr Walton said there are about ten drainage districts and they are the only areas where the council have responsibilities. 

He pointed out that river dredging comes up every year, but the council legally cannot do these works. Mr Walton said the landowners adjacent to the river are actually responsible for the maintenance, but they must go through the same statutory process as the council when undertaking the works.

Mr Walton acknowledged: "The fact is people want rivers dredged but that is not within the gift of the council to do."

Cllr Buggy suggested that councils need to start putting pressure on the government to address what is a "major problem" across the country.

He said that dredging the rivers would cost a fraction of the defence systems being put in place in the likes of Mountmellick and could seriously help with the flooding problem in Laois, adding "there's more than one solution."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme