Westport residents still waiting for flood defences after four years

A MAYO Oireachtas member is seeking answers why it is taking four years to build a flood defence wall in the case of Carrowholly, Rosmindle and Kilmeena in Westport.

Senator Rose Conway-Walsh hit out: “The people of Carrowholly and many other communities in Mayo take little solace from announcements of funding when they still feel unsafe in their homes, schools, businesses and on their land because of the threat of flooding.

“Four years to build a wall is simply disgraceful. There must be a better balance between the views of the local community and the consultants that are brought in at great cost to draft them. They have failed to have meaningful engagement with or to listen to local communities when communities often have the solutions to many of these problems. Announcements are futile unless there is an urgency to get the physical structures in place and drainage done.

“Minister Kevin Moran has to be proactive in ensuring that there is congruence between his department, local uthorities and National Parks and Wildlife. People living in Crossmolina, Ballina and in coastal areas like Ballycroy and Doohoma are left at the mercy of the tides or the rainfall. Roads are left in dangerous conditions and continue to deteriorate.

“Any future work on flood relief or flood defence must be matched with a will by government to engage sternly with the insurance companies. In areas where work has been carried out we have homeowners, business owners and farmers still being refused insurance.

“The culture must change from insurance companies only wanting to offer cover to those that will never claim.”