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Eliminating flood risk will be difficult, says Begley


ELIMINATING the risk of repeated flooding in parts of South-East Clare will be extremely difficult, a local county councillor has warned.
Householders and landowners in Springfield, Clonlara, O’Briensbridge, Shannon Banks and Montpelier, which is situated just across the boundary in County Limerick, have been badly affected by flooding in recent years.
Councillor Michael Begley believes there is no easy solution to prevent or reduce flooding in some of these locations due to the vagaries of the River Shannon.
However, the Clonlara-based councillor insists remedial works should be carried out as soon as possible prior to the development of a new Shannon Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study by December 2015.
He claimed badly needed flood relief works in areas like Springfield, Clonlara may not be carried out in the near future if Clare County Council haS to wait for the implementation of the new Shannon Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment.
He said it has been suggested by some that a definite solution may not be put in place for some areas along the River Shannon because of the concern it would displace flood waters to another area.
If a new embankment is placed on both sides of the River Shannon from Killaloe to Limerick City, he explained, this could possibly result in flooding in Limerick City.
While some dredging works have been carried out on the old River Shannon, he pointed out the Mulcaire River dissected the river between Castleconnell and the University of Limerick, which makes it very difficult to redirect.
During periods of very heavy rainfall and flooding, the Mulcaire River backs up on the Clare side resulting in extensive flooding in the South-East of the county.
Councillor Begley proposed the flow could be redirected with the provision of a rock breakwater encased in concrete, which would prove to be very expensive. This problem is also complicated by the fact the Old River Shannon tends to have a lot of silt build-up and should be dredged in ideal circumstances every three or four years.
However, fishermen have claimed that dredging adversely affects spawning, which is a big issue for the Mulcaire River as it is regarded as one of the best salmon rivers in the country.
Councillor Begley expressed concern that the proposed Shannon Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment may not provide the council with any information it didn’t know already.
Commenting on errors in the draft maps, he noted Clonlara village was identified as a flood-risk area instead of Springfield, which was located a few kilometres away.
He explained that unlike Springfield, the main centre in Clonlara village would not flood, while there were also errors in other locations concerning flood risk designation.
Senior executive engineer, Seán Lenihan told a recent Killaloe Electoral Area meeting up to 19 sites have been earmarked for further assessment as flood risk areas in East Clare.
Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Hayes asked if councillors could be informed whether it is  beneficial or not to include or exclude the designation of flood-risk areas.
Mr Lenihan explained it could work both ways as any flood designation would have planning implications but it would also strengthen the council’s case for road improvements  or remedial works in certain cases.
The Office of Public Works has issued its Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) to Clare County Council for public consultation, which is regarded as an important first step in determining how flood risk will be assessed and managed in the future.
Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) is an OPW-led  programme to identify areas of potentially significant flood risk and consult with the public in 2011, prepare Flood Maps by 2013 and Flood Risk Management plans by 2015.
Published on August 31 last, the draft PFRA will be on public display until this Friday. Observations on the PFRA can be sent to the OPW no later than November 1 next.
A spokeswoman for the Office of Public Works explained the PFRA was only a preliminary assessment, based on available or readily derivable information.
“Analysis has been undertaken to identify areas prone to flooding and the risks associated with such flooding but it should be stressed that this analysis is purely indicative and undertaken for the purpose of completing the draft PFRA. 
“The primary purpose of the public consultation on the PFRA is to facilitate the inclusion of locally derived knowledge and information to better inform this preliminary assessment of flood risk,” she said.

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