Laois town's flood plan hampered by workload and resources council reveals after 'crazy flooding'

Workload and staffing problems mean a plan to prevent flooding in Mountrath is being held up, County Hall has admitted.

The delay was revealed at a recent meeting in Laois County Council’s HQ between public representatives and council management after a councillor flagged another episode of flooding that damaged properties in the town. The 

Cllr James Kelly raised the issue and added that he was ‘flabbergasted’ that the town does not qualify for a flood scheme.

 Independent, tabled a motion calling on the Council as a “matter of urgency” and in light of the flash flooding on Friday, October 28 at Mountrath, Borris-in-Ossory and Donaghmore carry out immediate remedial works to prevent further flooding of residences, St. Fintan’s Boys National School, Mountrath Health Centre, Mooney’s Pub, Donaghmore and Laois County Council Municipal Offices.

He described what happened around Laois on the day as ‘crazy’. He said there units of Laois County Fire and Rescue Service were on the scene and the school threatened with the council offices flooded and Mooney’s hit.

Paul McLoughlin, Senior Engineer, Capital Projects Office replied on behalf of the council. 

The CFRAM (National Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management)  preliminary options for Mountrath have previously been assessed as not meeting the threshold Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 1:1 for schemes to achieve approval to advance to project level development and funding under the OPW  Flood Risk Management Plans,” he said.

However, he added that following continued representations by elected representatives and Laois County Council with regard to the flooding situation in Mountrath, the OPW committed  to undertaking a Scheme Viability Review.

But he admitted that this has stalled.

“Progress in this regard has been hampered based on workload and available staff resources to complete the required works,” he said.

In the interim, he said Council has undertaken two projects to  reduce the frequency and increase resilience to flooding events. He said these were the removal of the cross member from the underside of Patrick's St Bridge and the overflow culvert to the rear of properties on Shannon St.

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He added that the council would continue to Liaise and assist OPW where possible to ensure the completion of the Scheme Viability Review for Mountrath at the earliest opportunity. 

As for Donaghmore, Mr McLoughlin said the Council’s Capital Projects Office will work with Municipal District staff to establish the cause of the flooding and, where appropriate, develop and submit an application under the OPW Minor Works Scheme for funding.

Cllr Kelly said he was ‘flabbergasted’ that the town did not meet the threshold for a flood defence scheme in the first instance. He was also upset by the delay while people are “living in fear”.

Cllr Conor Bergin, Fine Gael,  backed his Independent colleague, and was annoyed by the idea of a cost benefit analysis. 

“Once people are flooded they live in fear of being flooded again. You can’t put a cost on that and the mental distress,” he said. 

He insisted that rivers must be cleaned because silt causes blockages and flooding.

Cllr John King, Fine Gael, also backed the rivers to be cleaned.

Cllr Paddy Bracken was also annoyed with the cost benefit ratio reason for rejecting Mountrath in the first place.

“That’s not much consolation to someone experiencing flooding,” he said.

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He highlighted the damage done in Mountmellick in 2017 and said rivers need to be maintained.

Cllr Ollie Clooney, Independent, concluded the discussion by highlighting the quantity of rain in October and calling for a new review of where the risks are in Laois.