Breen calls for Ballycar flooding to be addressed

AN inter-agency approach is needed to provide a permanent solution to flooding in the Ballycar area, which has led to prolonged closures of rail services on the Ennis-Limerick line over the past two years, according to Clare TD Pat Breen.

“This is the only way that this problem can be resolved, otherwise when we have further heavy downpours we could be facing further disruption,” said Deputy Breen.
He said he raised the issue with Martin Mansergh, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the OPW.
“Following the extended closures on this line again recently, I wrote to Dr Mansergh outlining my fears that consumer confidence in this rail service could be eroded because of the ongoing disruption to this service and urging him to permanently address flooding on this section of the rail track.
“Dr Mansergh has assured me in writing that he is concerned about the disruption to services on the Ennis/Limerick service line. He advises that the OPW’s environmental consultants for the Ennis Flood Relief Scheme were requested to submit a costed proposal for a flood study of the area at Ballycar. Minister Mansergh said that ‘A proposal and quotation to undertake a flood alleviation study of the flooding at Ballycar was subsequently received from the consultants and that the OPW have referred the consultant’s study proposals to Iarnród Éireann for their consideration’.
“According to Dr Mansergh, it is now up to Iarnród Éireann to implement the recommendations of the study. However, Iarnród Éireann has indicated that they do not have the financial resources to undertake the work required. On the other hand, the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, has held no discussions with either Iarnród Éireann or the OPW to try and solve this matter, claiming that it is an operational one for Iarnród Éireann.”
Deputy Breen criticised a lack of communication across organisations. “That is the problem, there is no joined-up thinking when it comes to infrastructural projects in this country. According to Iarnród Éireann’s chief executive Richard Fearn, even in the light of the current economic situation they will be maintaining their current level of services on this route and indeed enhancing them, with training having commenced on the Ennis/Athenry service and a new stop to open in Sixmilebridge.
“The extension of these services and the opening up of the Western Rail Corridor is a welcome development for this region. However, with no permanent solution put in place to address the flooding in Ballycar, there still remains the possibility that this line could be disrupted again, when we have heavy rain falls.”