Council say ‘all permanent flood defences have been installed’

AS STORM season arrives, members of South Dublin County Council have reiterated the need for the Council to ensure all work has been done around the administrative area to prevent serious flooding incidents.

Four Councillors raised this issue at the Rathfarnham/Bohernabreena/Firhouse/Templ eogue Area Committee Meeting to ensure their constituents are protected from any serious weather events this coming winter.

Councillor Yvonne Collins referred to the flooding events which took place this past January, during which several Rathfarnham residents were trapped in their homes due to severe flooding, with many homes and businesses damaged.

Cllr Collins referred to Grand Park in particular, which was hit heavily during Storm Chandra in January, and is in need of permanent flood defence works, including Kelly blocks.

“A lot of these defence works were to have been completed by mid-October, but we’re mid-October now, and the date has been going back on a rolling basis. So, we’re still not entirely sure when these are going to be done.

“Crucially, there’s a lack of protection in place whilst the permanent works are being completed. The temporary works that are in place aren’t providing sufficient protection in the event of a flood before the permanent works are completed.”

SDCC stated in its response to this issue that “all permanent flood defences have been installed” apart from “the raising of the upstand of the opening on the forecourt of the Rathfarnham garage.”

“Capri site wall works have commenced on placing the foundation for the new bridge; works are expected to be completed by mid-October.”

South Dublin County Council went on to detail the several bodies that take charge of certain sectors before and during weather events, with the Office of Public Works and SDCC’s Resident Engineer continuously carrying out risk assessments in relation to the flood alleviation scheme.

These risk assessments include “the constant monitoring of weather patterns to ensure the appropriate provision and quality of temporary defences are in areas where there are existing FPAs, along with daily inspections of the site.”

SDCC gave an approximate timeline for the completion of all flood defences on this scheme as “substantially complete by the end of December.”

Furthermore, SDCC also has a “major emergency plan” when severe weather or flooding is forecast, which incorporates dedicated severe weather and flood emergency plans.

The Severe Weather Assessment Team (SWAT), comprising senior staff across the organisation, “monitors weather warnings and flood forecasts, coordinates the council’s response and, where practicable, directs advanced measures to reduce potential impacts.”

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