Fears over flood risk areas

UP to 10 areas around Ennis have not been included as probable areas for further assessment as flood-risk zones in a new national assessment, Clare County Councillor, Johnny Flynn has claimed.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) 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.
From analysis of the PFRA draft flood risk map, Ennis has been included as a probable area for further assessment (AFA) as flood risk. 
Councillor Flynn has claimed the extent of areas at risk identified are inadequate as the designation of Ennis appears to be for river and/or tidal flooding only.
“The flood-risk analysis for Ennis does not appear to have taken account of the risk of flooding from groundwater and excessive rainfall sources. The areas in Ennis town in the vicinity of Lough Girroga, St Flannan’s College swallow hole and Ballybeg swallow hole, among other areas, are not included in the areas at risk from groundwater flooding in these maps.
“From historical evidence, these areas have a significant groundwater flooding risk and are influenced by the effects of fluvial and/or tidal coastal flooding from the River Fergus and the estuary,” he said.
As a civil engineer, Councillor Flynn stressed  the flood-risk assessment process in Ennis should assess flood risk from all of these sources – river and coastal flooding with significant influence from groundwater and excessive rainfall flooding areas.
The Ennis councillor pointed out that risk assessment must also assess the interactions of each flood source on each other, which could be very complex.
He also expressed concern about a statement in the Ennis map that fluvial information is unavailable in some areas.
However, he noted most of these areas in fact have large flood risk and this detail needs to be filled in.
He appealed to Ennis fishermen, residents, business and property owners to check out the details and information on the map and make a submission/comment as this will ensure locally derived knowledge and information provides a more accurate picture for this preliminary assessment of flood risk in Ennis. This also applies for people in areas with flood issues in the rest of County Clare.
The Ennis town and Ennis East/West Areas flood risk map is number 161 and can be viewed at the Clare County Council headquarters or on the website www.cfram.ie.
Ennis and Lissane West Clarecastle are identified in the map as probable AFAs with Quin village, identified as possible further assessment as flood risk. 
From review of maps there appears areas not included that should be included, as for example around
Following further examination of the PFRA, Councillor Flynn has proposed that areas around the town that are not going to benefit from works in Fergus Lower Bank Place to Doora Bridge including Cappahard  Flood Defence scheme that is due to start this coming month should also be included as possible further assessment as flood risk. 
These include areas affected by the Fergus River Watery Road; Willow/Oak/Elm Park; areas affected by the Claureen river such as Cloughleigh; the Corrovorrin River; Fiourisce and Corrovorrin; the Gaurus river; Newpark/Gauras East and Tulla Road estates; the tidal impact; Clarecastle, Limerick Road estates; swallow holes; St Flannan’s, Tobertaiscan; Ballybeg; Kildysart Cross/Clareabbey roundabout; Girroga Lough and areas affected by surface water from heavy rain.    
“I believe in future that allocation of scarce national funding for flood defences and relief will be based on findings of this public consultation,” he said
A spokeswoman for the Office of Public Works explained the PFRA is 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.