Floods: War of words with management body after canal burst banks in Limerick

The flooding of 14 houses in Limerick last Saturday night when a canal burst its banks has sparked a war of words between Limerick City and County Council and Waterways Ireland.

Residents in Richmond Park Corbally said long delays in opening a lock gate at the Park Canal led to the flooding. Waterways Ireland, which has responsibility for the canal, in a statement on Monday said it had agreed with the council that the council would monitor the canal and had given the lock key to the council.

Limerick City and County Council said it was disappointed with the Waterways Ireland statement.

A council spokesman said: “Limerick City and County Council wishes to point out that Waterways Ireland is the authority solely responsible for the management and maintenance of the Park Canal.

“The council responded to reports on Saturday evening that the canal was full and over-topping. Attempts were made by the council engineer on site to open the gates with the keys that were left with the authority. The gates failed to respond and contact was immediately made with Waterways Ireland.

“As Waterways Ireland were not immediately available attempts were made by council engineers and the fire service to open the canal gates. The council deployed an excavator to prise the canal gates open, an action that subsequently resulted in a lowering of water levels and the gradual alleviation of flooding in the area.”

The spokesman said the local authority is scheduled to meet with Waterways Ireland. “To avoid any future repeat incidents, the council will be requesting that Waterways Ireland immediately review its management and operation of the Park Canal and also publicly outline its plans so as to reassure residents and businesses in the area affected by flooding.”

Meanwhile, Clare County Council has said the flood response operations in the last 10 days has cost it almost €1m. Anne Haugh, director of services said crisis management arrangements had been put in place and utilised as necessary with the full co-operation and support of gardaí, the HSE, defence forces and Department of Social Protection. She said the investment in flood defences since 2009 had reduced the impact.

“During the weekend, a total of 65 army personnel were deployed to assist Clare County Council. Approximately half the troops were engaged in addressing the flooding problems in south- east Clare with the balance assisting with sandbag duty in Ennis on Saturday,” she said.

Clean-up of floods will cost millions of euro says minister https://t.co/r7FHZ2DtM8 via @Junomaco (DOD) pic.twitter.com/1ri7OOZ8f0

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) December 14, 2015

“Approximately 20,000 sandbags were utilised or distributed throughout the county in preparation for, and in response to, widespread flooding on Saturday. Community sandbag operations were put in place at the Mart, Ennis, Clareabbey in Clarecastle and Parteen GAA club in Westbury, south east Clare.

“While flood levels have receded somewhat at this point and levelled off, the outlook really will be largely determined by the amount of rainfall over the coming days and/or the impact of any further increases in waters released by ESB from Parteen Weir.”