Cork and Galway flood groups plan joint action
Representatives of the Cork Flood Action Committee and the Flood Alleviation Ballinasloe Community Project have confirmed they are considering pooling information in an attempt to ensure those affected receive the money they are owed.
The Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) has insisted firms are working as quickly as they can to conclude investigations into outstanding flood claims.
However, rejecting the comment, a spokesperson for the Galway floods group said it was keen to speak with their Cork counterparts over the possibility of creating “any agency to help flood victims deal with the very slick insurance industry”.
Meanwhile, Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Dara Murphy, has heavily criticised ESB for its response to the November floods crisis.
In a letter sent to the energy firm late last week, the Fine Gael representative said the company had produced “inaccurate, misinformed and very unhelpful” comments when questioned by those investigating what happened at Inniscarra dam.
The lord mayor said the public disagreement between ESB chief executive Pádraig McManus and Cork city manager Joe Gavin over the response to the flooding crisis was not in anyone’s best interests.
He added if any suggested changes to existing practices at the dam, which could potentially be made by the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, were not introduced, the ESB should no longer be in control of Inniscarra dam.
“His [Mr McManus’s] comments fill me with a lack of confidence in him and the ESB,” the letter read. “If they will not improve or change the managing of the water levels then the ESB must be removed as the authority managing the dam. A new water management authority is required for the Lee Valley as a matter of urgency. Cork cannot accept this ongoing risk upriver of our city,” it added.
The ESB said it stood by the presentation and comments it made during the Oireachtas Committee meeting last Tuesday.
