Anger over material deleted from flooding report

A FIANNA FÁIL member of Limerick County Council yesterday challenged council officials over the deletion of information from a consultant’s report commissioned into the Newcastle West floods.

Councillors have called a special meeting of the council for next Wednesday seeking answers to why copies of the report given to councillors in Newcastle West were “edited”.

Up to 30 houses and business were badly flooded on August 1 when the River Arra overflowed.

The council commissioned JBA consultants to carry out a study on the causes of the freak flood and the company reported some weeks later. Cllr Michael Collins (FF) said yesterday he only became aware earlier this week that very important information had been excluded from the draft copy he and others had been given.

He said: “We have now found out what the full report contained as the flood committee in Newcastle West got the entire report under the Freedom of Information Act and it contained information I and others were not aware of. The full report said the local area plan for Newcastle West should not be adopted as there were restrictions to the Arra river. However, officials signed the local area plan into law even though officials knew what the JBA report had stated about the local area plan.”

Mr Collins said it was time that all 28 councillors stood up and showed they held the power.

“I am furious at the way we as council members have been kept in the dark with regard to very important information in the JBA report. We will have our opportunity next Wednesday to take a stand,” he said.