Relocation plan discussed during OPW minister’s visit to flood-hit Buncrana estate

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, has said agreement in principle has been reached to relocate residents of Elm Park in Buncrana whose homes have been affected by both flooding and defective concrete blocks.
Minister Moran visited the estate on Friday afternoon to meet residents and outline progress following discussions between the Department of Housing and the Office of Public Works (OPW). Several homes in Elm Park were badly flooded during the August 2017 storm that caused widespread damage across Inishowen. At that time, Minister Moran was in charge of the OPW and visited the estate in the immediate aftermath of the deluge.
The following year, the OPW identified the need for flood defences along the River Crana to prevent a recurrence. However, the Buncrana-Ludden flood relief scheme remains in pre-planning, with construction still many years away.
In the intervening period, it emerged that flooding was not the only threat facing residents. Homes in Elm Park were built with defective blocks, leaving families facing an agonising dilemma: rebuild on what remains an unprotected flood plain, or remain in deteriorating homes while fearing the consequences of another major flood on already weakened structures.
They have campaigned for relocation away from the floodplain, something the Defective Concrete Block Remediation Acts do not allow for.
However, that campaign has borne fruit with an agreement in principle to allow for relocation – although once-bitten-twice-shy residents raised many questions about how that will work in practice and when agreement in principle will become a scheme in reality.

Read more: OPW estimated that it would cost €1 million euro to build flood defences to protect Elm Park

Speaking during an impromptu meeting outside a crumbling home, Minister Moran said that agreement in principle to relocate residents has now been reached between the Department of Housing and the OPW. He said further meetings between officials are required before the details of a relocation scheme can be finalised, but stressed that work is ongoing.
“The Taoiseach has made it clear that he wants some solution found to deal with Elm Park,” he said.
“I have met with (housing minister) James Browne on a number of occasions. Before Christmas, the Department of Housing took the decision for relocation. They are drafting up the terms of a scheme to help people here.
“There will need to be another one or two meetings between the departments [of Housing and the Office of Public Works] and I would be hopeful that, out of that, a scheme will be drafted and the residents here will be met with and spoken to.
“My job as minister is to protect homes from flooding. However, there are unique circumstances here. I’m lending my support, and the expertise from my department and will continue to do that.”
The Minister met residents outside the home of Elaine Fletcher, where extensive cracking to external walls, broken corner stones and damage around windows provided a stark backdrop.
The visit formed part of a two-day trip around Donegal with the floods minister visiting Burnfoot and Killybegs later on Friday. He's also due to visit Creeslough and Pettigo on Saturday.
Also present were Minister of State Charlie McConalogue (Fianna Fáil), Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Féin), Cllrs Paul Canning and Fionan Bradley (Fianna Fáil), Cllrs Joy Beard and Ali Farren (100% Redress Party), along with officials from the OPW and Donegal County Council.

Read more: Reports from 2017 on the Big Flood in Inishowen

Reflecting on his earlier visit in 2017, Minister Moran said the situation now confronting residents was deeply troubling.
“When I came up here in 2017 when this place flooded, I’d never been in a community that was so connected, fearful too, yes, but welcoming.
“My job then was to draft up the CFRAMS and then get the money to fund that, and then deliver a flood relief scheme. And not to deliver what I see today.
“And what I see from the cracks in the walls… I have a fear of what would happen if we had a flood here tonight.
“People will always be looking for someone to blame, and I’d be the one at the helm in the Office of Public Works and I don’t want that to happen. It’s not for myself, but moreso for the people.
“I’ll take the blame when things go wrong, but in a case like this I want to deliver for the people who live here.”
Asked if he was surprised at how long the situation has taken to resolve, the Minister said: “If we weren’t faced with [damaged homes], there’d be a flood scheme designed to defend it. That’s where we in the Office of Public Works come in.
“But here we’re faced with mica.
“I’ve been out of politics for five years, but now I’m back.
“In my 12 months back, I’ve convened meetings between my department and the Department of Housing. They are leading on it, but they have my full support and help it move on.”
Minister Moran confirmed that the original plan to defend Elm Park through flood works on the Crana will now be amended in light of the relocation decision.

“The Taoiseach himself spoke to me about Elm Park, to see how we can drive it on,” Minister Moran told residents. “We’ve been going around the place for quite a while trying to find a solution. Minister Browne has now decided that a relocation scheme is the way forward.
“I don’t have a timeframe to tell you today. The Department of Housing will draw up the terms of the relocation scheme and we in the OPW will facilitate that.
“You [residents] wanted relocation, and we have gone in that direction. I just ask that you give us a small bit more time.”
Residents voiced frustration at the lack of communication and the absence of a clear timeline. Eugene Donaghey said families are living in constant fear.
“I know you are all busy, but with the greatest of respect we need to know what’s happening,” he said. It’s inhumane. We have children going to bed at night who are worried, hearing cracks or having water coming into their houses.”
Elaine Fletcher said residents fear they could face the same fate as those recently flooded in Enniscorthy, but with a critical difference.
“Our houses wouldn’t withstand a flood. That’s the fear that we’re living with.”

Minister Moran said Elm Park was “top of the list” for flood relief when he returned to the OPW last year.

“We can defend Elm Park,” he said, “but we knew the people didn’t want that and wanted to get out of here.”
He acknowledged residents’ anger and said while he could not yet give a firm timeline, progress had been made.
“I won’t say I’ll have an answer for you in two weeks, but I am saying I want to get one as quickly as possible.”
He also described posing stark questions to officials in meetings: “If a house falls and kills someone, who is responsible? If a house is flooded and falls and kills someone, who is responsible? Me. The buck will stop with me if someone drowns. And I don’t want to be part of that.”
Residents said they were grateful that the Minister had come to meet them, but stressed they want an end to what has been a years-long ordeal.
“We’re fighting this for years,” Mr Donaghey said. “We didn’t know when you came here in 2017 what was ahead. We feel that we have been fighting all the time.”