Lack of drainage funding is ‘melodeon’ says Cooney

THE council has come in for some criticism regarding the drainage funding for 2010 as funds are already over extended in the Killaloe electoral area.
Councillor Joe Cooney raised a motion at last week’s Killaloe Electoral Area meeting calling for the council to carry out road works and drainage works on a section of road from Ayle Cross to Crown-Crown Bridge on the Tulla to Feakle Road.
Arising from a reply from the council, which stated there was currently no funding available, Councillor Cooney stressed that a budget for such drainage projects of €20,000 for the whole county was “melodeon”.
“I’m not happy with the council’s response this section of road gets flooded every year. €20,000 for drainage works countywide is melodeon,” he said.
Seán Lenihan, senior executive engineer, stated that the area’s allocation was spent on the river at the back of the hall in Broadford and in a couple of other areas where arterial works were needed. However, he accepted in his formal response that the section of road gets flooded at least once a year and as a result, the surface is particularly frayed.
“There is no treasure chest or pot of gold in this one. I agree that it is much-needed work,” he said.
Councillor Pat Hayes, who seconded the motion, stressed that this is an ongoing issue every year that could be averted if the drainage and necessary works were carried out.
“Strategically, we would be saving ourselves a lot of money in routine repairs because the roads have been washed away a number of times. There’s an urgency to raise the level of the road. A number of people have lost their cars there in floods,” Councillor Pat Hayes stressed.
Councillor Cooney called for the matter to be made a priority.
“It is very dangerous when the road is flooded as the banks are low on either side. Maybe it can’t be done this year but it should be done next year and if money comes available before then, I would ask that it would be done this year,” he concluded.
In a formal reply to the motion, senior executive engineer Seán Lenihan said the widening and deepening of the river downstream would be of benefit and desirable. However, he added, “There is currently no available funding for the works necessary there but they can be considered in the next review of the programme”.