Donegal Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has expressed his concern at the lack of Government commitment to construct vital Burnfoot flood defences.
The issue arose when Mary Lou McDonald asked if the Government have allocated funding for flood defences for the village and when the works will be commenced.
Mary Lou McDonald had visited homes in the Burnfoot area in the days that followed last August’s floods (pictured above) and witnessed at first hand the need for flood defences.
Senator Mac Lochlainn says the response from the Office of Public Works confirmed that they have appointed consultants to review the issues at Burnfoot and that “subject to the outcomes of this review, the OPW will re-assess the possible options to manage the risk and the economic viability of these options”.
Senator Mac Lochlainn says he is worried about this response.
He said: “The OPW had previously carried out surveys and costings for flood defences at Burnfoot and ruled out works because of a crude and offensive cost benefit analysis. They estimated that the value of the homes under threat from flooding was less than the cost of constructing flood defences.
“I really believed that last August’s floods and the range of homeowners, tenants and local businesses that were devastated and traumatised would have led to a very different approach. Indeed Minister Boxer Moran made it clear that the flood defences at Burnfoot would be built when he visited Burnfoot in the days after the flooding.
“Now there is further consultants reviews and most worryingly of all, the words in the Government’s response ” the economic viability of these options”.
“This is frankly, insulting to the people of Burnfoot and the local businesses”.
He concluded:”In recent weeks, the people of Burnfoot watched as the flood waters approached their homes again. They cannot be expected to continue to have to live like this. They need to know where they stand. I will be raising this issue with Minister Boxer Moran and local Minister Joe McHugh and seeking urgent assurances that these flood defences will be built and that the promises made are honoured”.
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