'Midleton flood left my family in despair': Cork residents write to Government about their plight

Midleton, Mogeely, and Rathcormac residents prominent among those making submissions to the consultation stage of the Accelerating Infrastructure plan

Emergency personnel working in Main St, Midleton, Co Cork, during the flood caused by Storm Babet in October 2023. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Flood-hit Corkonians wrote in en masse to the Government, pleading for it to take action to protect their homes and businesses in its new landmark infrastructure strategy, documents have revealed.

Locals from Midleton, Mogeely, and Rathcormac were among those who made submissions to the public consultation on the Accelerating Infrastructure plan, according to documents published by the Department of Public Expenditure.

As part of the plan, unveiled in early December, the Government said it would introduce restrictions on judicial reviews and new laws to fast track major projects as part of reforms to speed up infrastructure delivery.

Minister for public expenditure Jack Chambers said the State had “become trapped by process at the cost of progress”, and its proposed changes would put major projects “centre stage to accelerate delivery and provide a fast-track pathway”.

Local residents being evacuated during the Storm Babet flooding that hit Midleton, Co Cork, in October 2023. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The plan had been put out to public consultation last summer, and more than 160 responses that were received have been published by the government both from individuals and businesses.

Well over a dozen of these submissions referenced recent flooding events in Cork, along with the lack of progress made in mitigating measures being brought in to prevent such flooding happening in future.

The most devastating in recent memory were the Storm Babet floods in Midleton that caused hundreds of millions of euro worth of damage to homes and businesses in 2023.

'Shock and despair'

One wrote: “The devastating floods in Midleton in 2023 left my family and me in a state of shock and despair.

“With three young girls under six, the chaos of that day is etched in my memory.

“Our home, once a sanctuary filled with laughter and love, was severely damaged, with the entire bottom level destroyed and needing complete replacement.

“We urgently need the Midleton flood relief scheme to be fast-tracked and implemented.

“Supposedly, the money is there. Hire adequate resources, and let’s get this project underway before the next flood and loss of life.”

The main street in Midleton, Co Cork, on October 18, 2023. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

'We cannot feel safe in our own house'

Another said they had been hit with 3ft of flood water in October 2023, having waited since before 2015 for a flood relief scheme.

“We cannot feel safe in our own house or enjoy the home we have built,” they wrote.

“The planning around the flood relief scheme should be treated as an emergency to protect 900-plus homes impacted and emergency legislation should be enacted to save lives and homes.”

'Fear and stress' 

A resident of Mogeely said that, while the sun shines, it is a beautiful place to live but, when it rains, the “fear and stress” of 2023 returns.

“We do not feel completely safe in our own home at the moment. However, that could change if Mogeely and Castlemartyr are included in the tranche two of the OPW flood relief scheme,” the resident said. 

‘Rare weather events’ are becoming more and more common, and this will be what protects our houses, families and mental health. 

A Blackpool resident said that numerous flooding episodes since 2002 have heightened fears it could happen again, fears which are rising due to climate change.

“I would say there is too much consideration of individual objectors to projects, and not enough consideration of the benefits of the project to the broader community,” they said.

“Every month with no progress is further time we could be flooded again.”

Meanwhile, another Blackpool resident said it was “too easy” to launch a judicial review to halt or delay core infrastructure and this should be reformed.

“Unfortunately, there are too many barriers to the delivery of core economic infrastructure in Ireland,” the person wrote. “If we had the same barriers when delivering the national electrification of Ireland 60/70 years ago, we would be still be reading by candlelight today.”