The Minister for Public Works is to visit Killybegs following recent flooding in the area.
Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher Leas has welcomed the commitment and reply from Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, that measures are currently being actively examined in order to prevent future flooding in Killybegs.
Deputy Gallagher said this confirmation comes following a number of phone calls, meeting with the Minister and a Dáil question on the matter in course of this week by me to the relevant Department.
Pat the Cope added it is important that we maintain the pressure at this critical time immediately after the recent flooding in Killybegs in order to secure the necessary flood protection measures for the town of Killybegs.
“I am satisfied after my intervention that the OPW and the Department are now giving flood prevention measures in Killybegs the necessary consideration it deserves, and are actively considering options at present.
“The CFRAM or catchment flood risk assessment programme has already been lodged and the Department have informed me that they are now in the process of finalising the action plan.”
The measures being considered by the OPW include the preferred measure for Killybegs consists of a series of floodwalls and road raising.
These hard defences will provide a Standard of Protection of 1% AEP* for fluvial flood events and 0.5% for coastal flood events, at a total length of 1.3km and an average height of 1m.
This option will provide protection to approximately 24 properties at risk of fluvial flooding, 40 properties at risk of coastal flooding and 5 properties at risk of wave overtopping, and it includes Bridge Street. The Killybegs Flood Relief Scheme will be subject to project-level public consultation and assessment before proceeding.
Pat the Cope added “I also welcome the commitment from Minister Kevin Boxer Moran to visit the area and to witness the urgent need of flood prevention measures first hand, and I expect that such a visit will take place shortly, in the meantime I will continue to maintain the pressure on the Government in order to deliver the necessary measures for the area and that the process moving forward will not be delayed by Government inaction on the issue.”