Flood relief for Donegal Town - but councillor warns of ‘serial objectors’

News that Donegal Town is to finally get a multi-million Euro flood relief scheme has been met with huge relief.

But that relief is tempered with a note of caution among people who have been waiting a long time for this to happen.

Cllr Noel Jordan (SF) is among those who have campaigned hard for this scheme. 

He told the Donegal Post: “I welcome it and I welcome that Donegal Town is eventually being recognised as a high risk flood area. That is the message I have been trying to get across for a number of years. 

“But I am also conscious that it is a very lengthy process.”

Cllr Jordan has a particular concern, and he is appealing to people not to delay the project any further than necessary.

“The 2019 schemes announced elsewhere in Donegal are only getting to construction now,” he said. “A lot of them were stalled because of ‘serial objectors.’”

Cllr Jordan explained that the next step is to get a full design and an Environmental Impact Report.

“Then it goes to public consultation,” he said. “We are being told that nationally, there are serial objectors out there. I am told they could be from anywhere in the country. 

“I am urging people to let these schemes run as quickly as possible.”

Cllr Jordan has seen first hand the devastating effect that floods have had in Donegal Town. While the material damage is significant, the emotional impact is equally devastating and long-lasting. 

People living in areas such as Clareden Drive are at their wit’s end, having had their lives turned upside down by flooding on a number of occasions.

“I am thinking of the households and businesses most affected by this,” said Cllr Jordan.

“The 2019 flooding particularly hit me, and I can still see the way wee toys were floating about on the floors of houses and it so close to Christmas.

“Those people were begging us to get something done.”

There were many suggestions about what could be done to help the situation. However, it became apparent that nothing short of a major, multi-million euro scheme would work. 

“We said for years that it was the big scheme or nothing that was needed to fix this once and for all,” said Cllr Jordan. “They have eventually recognised the need for the major scheme. 

“Donegal Town is unique in that of all the towns waiting for schemes, it was the only one that had three different risk categories for flooding. It is so close to the coast that there is flooding from high tides and storm surges at the estuary. We have fluvial [river] flooding, and flash flooding in heavy rainfall.”

In 2019, councillors and staff from the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal made a presentation to Minister Boxer Moran.

“I want to thank Area Roads Officer Mark Sweeney for an excellent presentation at that time,” said Cllr Jordan. “It was very thorough and very well outlined. 

“We were certain at that stage that a scheme would be announced for us. It was very disappointing when it wasn’t.

“We got money for interim works in 2020. Sluice gates were put in and some drainage work helped a little. But that still didn’t take away that major issue that when the river flooded, houses were flooded. 

“We kept at it, we stuck to our call that nothing less than the major scheme was required. I am relieved that they have eventually recognised that. We need to get it to construction now as quickly as possible so that there will be some ease for those people living in that area.

“They have assured us that the funding is there to do the job. It is just a case of how soon we can get it to construction.”

Cllr Jordan is confident that work can progress to the construction stage reasonably quickly if there are no objections. 

“The department has given Donegal County Council three additional staff to work on the schemes in Donegal Town and Letterkenny,” he said. 

“And I have spoken to engineers Seamus Hopkins and Shane McMonagle. They told me they have learned a lot from the other schemes in the county and so they are hopeful that they can move this quickly.”

Leas-Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Micheál Naughton (FF) also welcomed the launch of the flood relief scheme for Donegal Town. 

He said: “I was delighted to meet with Minister Patrick O’ Donovan TD on [Tuesday] morning, and very much welcome the Flood Relief Scheme for Donegal Town. 

“This is a great day for the local residents and businesses owners that are living in fear every year when there is bad weather, especially the residents and businesses owners of Clareden Drive, Drumlonagher and New Row and surrounding areas.

“I look forward to seeing the work start. 

“I also spoke with the Minister in relation to the Termon River in Pettigo and to get this moved forward also.”

The scheme for Donegal Town was one of two launched by Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan TD on Tuesday. 

Minister O’ Donovan said: “The history and experience of flooding in these communities has brought devastation and is a cause of great concern to the families, business and wider community.

“The OPW and local authorities are working in a very challenging environment to deliver and expand the programme of flood relief schemes, due to resource constraints in a highly specialised and professional market. 

“Within the current resource constraints, and from lessons learned to date, trialling a new delivery model for Donegal Town and Letterkenny will deliver important flood relief measures for these towns and will inform the most efficient approach to delivering the next tranche of 60 flood relief schemes nationally.”

John McLaughlin, Chief Executive of Donegal County Council and Liam Blaney, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council welcomed the news. They extended their thanks to the minister.