Michael Commins
IT would appear that relief is in sight for householders in the Roundfort and Hollymount areas who have been impacted by flood waters in local turloughs over the years. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley TD, has informed the Fine Gael Spokesperson on Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Michael Ring, that an agreed solution will be finalised shortly.
In a reply to a Dáil question from Deputy Ring concerning the outcome of a meeting between the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the OPW regarding Roundfort/Hollymount Flood Mitigation Report proposals, the minister confirmed that things were progressing well.
“My Department met with the OPW on April 12, to discuss their proposals to undertake work to alleviate flooding in the Roundfort-Hollymount area. This area is part of the Kilglassan/Caheravoostia Turlough Complex Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which is protected under the EU Habitats Directive.
“A number of further aspects of the project, identified at the meeting, need to be reviewed to satisfy the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive. It is expected an agreed solution will be finalised shortly which will address the flooding problem without adversely impacting on the turloughs,” said Minister Gormley.
Deputy Ring stated: “I had been endeavouring for some time to have this flooding tackled. This is a very worrying situation for the families that live around this area where flooding takes place. I have been trying to get this matter resolved for a very long time.”
Flooding has severely disturbed the community life of a number of residents in this region over the past number of years, creating enormous inconvenience as well as substantial property damage.
A campaign to improve the situation and help bring about a remedy has been ongoing for some years.
