'Cold comfort' to Waterford people putting 'lives, businesses and homes back together'
2018 OPW assessment found Tallow was at low risk of flooding. Stock photo
Waterford TD Conor McGuiness has said it is of “cold comfort” to the people of Tallow that the OPW considers the area at low risk of flooding.
Deputy McGuiness asked The Minister of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan, Delivery and Reform what schemes are in place to support areas like Tallow, which have previously experienced significant flooding during Storm Babet in 2023.
He said the storm caused significant damage to homes and businesses and while dredging was approved, it is not enough.
"We are all aware that the ferocity and frequency of these winter storms and severe weather events are increasing. People on West Street have begun to put their lives, businesses and homes back together after that flooding event in late 2023,” said Deputy McGuinness.
Minister for State Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran replied that in 2018, the OPW completed a strategic study called the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme.
That study found Tallow to be at low risk of flooding, and so structural management options were not proposed.
However, he said the OPW is now reviewing that risk.
“Officials from my Department have previously liaised with Waterford City and County Council regarding recent flooding events in Tallow, and OPW engineers will meet Waterford City and County Council over the coming weeks to discuss the flooding at Tallow and measures available to the council to manage that risk,” said Deputy Moran.
Deputy McGuiness responded by saying, the review and the dredging are not enough.
“I thank the Minister of State for that answer, but it will be cold comfort to residents of West Street in Tallow who are grappling with the fact that no structural works are proposed by the OPW to the Glenaboy and the Bride rivers," said Deputy McGuiness.
He also pointed out that in the aftermath of Storm Babet, no minister of state visited Tallow and asked the deputy to do so.
“People are sore about that because businesses and property in the area suffered huge damage,” said Deputy McGuiness.
Deputy Moran told Mr McGuiness that the first port to call is the Local Authority.
He said the LA can apply for funding and could do more to address minor flood mitigation.
The fund's purpose is to provide 90% of funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies costing up to €750,000.
With this funding, LAs can address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.
“It is very much driven by the local authorities. It is something I, in taking up this role, will be driving on that bit further because the local authorities can do more,” said Deputy Moran.
The deputy would not commit to visiting Tallow as he had many places he must visit.
“There is no question that the money is available to support them. I am not going to tell the Deputy today that I will visit Tallow as I have many places to visit. I will be here for five years.
"However, although I hope we will deal with the problems quicker than that for him,” said Deputy Moran.
Deputy McGuiness urged the Minister for State to visit and see for himself that structural works are needed.
Deputy Moran reiterated his point that this was a matter for the Local Authority but said his engineers would meet with them.
“We will see what comes out of that,” said Deputy Moran.
