The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht is being called upon to visit flood-hit families in Gaoth Dobhair who lost a bridge to their homes.
The extended O Duibhir families from Bunbeg have been relying on a temporary footbridge to access their houses after their original bridge was swept away by the River Clady in August.
But the replacement bridge is so unsuitable that an ambulance was unable to access the home of one ill family member, who is 79 years old, and paramedics were forced to wheel him to the road.
Mr O Duibhir at the ambulance.
Local councillor Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig is now calling on the Gaeltacht Minister of State, Sean Kyne TD, to visit the O Duibir homes when he visits the area next week.
“It is very difficult for the families to get on with their lives when they cannot get their bridge rebuilt. The council’s response is that this is a private bridge, but if you look at LIS roads, they are all private roads funded through the State. So why wouldn’t this bridge be funded?,” Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said.
“Myself and Pat the Cope Gallagher TD have been fighting for these families. As a councillor I appreciate that this is a private bridge, but at the same time the State should look after the wellbeing of all its citizens.”
The homes of three families in Gweedore including a wheelchair bound resident who are trapped after flooding demolished the bridge into their homes. (North West Newspix)
Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said he hopes that Mr Kyne TD could find a way of identifying funding sources if he saw the reality of the family’s circumstances.
He said: “The Minister will be in Gaoth Dobhair on the 26th, a half a mile from where the families live, and I have invited him to meet the family and see how the situation affects them.
“The family has been left in limbo. One man had to get the ambulance called twice since the bridge collapsed and every time he has to be carted from his house. This is not acceptable. It’s very difficult for families to get on with their lives, the oil lorry can’t even reach them.
“Next week is a great opportunity for the Minister to meet the family and to help them.”