We should be planning in summer for flood prevention in winter

In viewing the floods and in reading about them, one could be forgiven for thinking: ‘what have we been doing’?

The floods have been with us since Noah’s Ark and we still allow this weather phenomenon to catch us off guard. It is laughable to see and hear our lamentable excuses. Action plans against flooding should be enacted during the summer: ie filling sandbags and having them available. Also, floating pumps should be built at the vulnerable spots. These could be activated when the water rises and super-tanks could be engineered to accept the flood waters and connect them to the sea, pumping it out via piping.

This country could have an industry built on water alone.

It is a prized natural resource that we could ship to the countries that have drought.

Yet again, we are not thinking in advance, but only reacting to the conditions at the time.

There should be a minister for this situation and his instructions should prevail over the other organisations involved. Instead, we have piecemeal development, which is subject to political influences and displays the ineptitude of Dáil Eireann. We would also need provincial input to this national oversight body.

Finally, all buildings in affected areas should be built on pillars above normal flood levels.

Liam O’Conaire

Bruff

Co Limerick