14/12/2015

Waterways Ireland Blamed For Limerick Flooding

Sinn Féin has called on Waterways Ireland to "admit culpability" for flooding in Limerick which left 14 homes badly damaged.

Limerick Councillor Maurice Quinlivan called on the body to make restitution to those affected after what he describes as "serious neglect and ineptitude" in the monitoring of the Canal Bank where the flooding occurred.

"It is now clear that Waterways Ireland's failure to monitor the Canal Bank caused the serious flood in Corbally on Saturday. This was not an 'act of god' or 'freak of nature'; rather, it was something which could have been easily avoided. I am in no doubt it was primarily caused by the ineptitude of Waterways Ireland," Cllr Quinlivan said.

"Local residents are rightly incensed with what they see as serious neglect and ineptitude of those supposedly in charge of the Canal. They firmly believe that their concerns were ignored. If these concerns were taken into consideration and appropriate action taken then people would not be standing in their flooded homes today.

"It is simply not good enough that this can happen. We need a response and I will be calling for Waterways Ireland to address the next Metropolitan Meeting and explain exactly what happened and to compensate the Corbally residents as a matter of urgency."

(MH)

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