Flooded residents hold onto sandbags

RESIDENTS whose homes were swamped two months ago when the river Tolka burst its banks are holding on to their sandbags - just in case it happens again, a committee of Dublin City Council heard yesterday.

A full report by consultants on the November 14 flooding which hit scores of houses on the northside of the city will be presented to the council by May.

Office of Public Works crews are currently carrying out a package of emergency works, but representatives of Tolka River Residents’ Alliance who attended yesterday’s committee meeting insisted that the response of the authorities to the emergency response was inadequate, as was the warning given to residents.

Deputy City Engineer Tom Leahy defended the council’s role when he outlined a preliminary report to the council’s North Central Area Committee.

He said it was important to emphasise that the November 14 flooding was “an event of extraordinary magnitude.”

Deputy Richard Bruton (FG) said they must ensure they were not caught flat-footed again. Were failings found in the council’s response and what action was proposed to prevent a recurrence, he asked.

He suggested the OPW might take responsibility for the wider catchment. “We are now dependent on Meath Co Council, Fingal Co Council and Dublin City Council in keeping a catchment policy coherent. I think the chances that the three councils would be able to co-operate in this way are close to nil,” he said.