The Minister for Flood Relief has been strongly criticised in the wake of the flooding in Donegal Town this morning.
Homes and businesses in three areas of the town were badly affected by floods caused by heavy rain and high tides during Storm Lorenzo.
It is not the first time that residents in the town centre have dealt with the devastating effects of floods, but as the waters came in again this morning, there have been calls for urgent action.
Cllr Michael Naughton, who was on the scene, said he was upset for the families impacted in New Row, Drumlonagher, O’Cleary Avenue and Brookfield Manor.
The Donegal MD councillor has called on the Minister for Public Works and Flood Relief Kevin Boxer Moran to put his words into actions.
“Three years ago we took Kevin Boxer Moran down here, he shook our hands and he told us that he was going to solve this problem. Here we are again with flooded homes,” Cllr Naughton told Donegal Daily.
“How would he feel coming out of bed and putting his foot in water?”
“Families are devastated. They can’t get insurance against floods anymore.”
Cllr Naughton commended the fire service, Donegal County Council’s Director of Emergency Services Garry Martin, and all local people who assisted with the emergency this morning.
“The community spirit was strong here,” Cllr Naughton said.
But the councillor says that questions have to be answered.
“I’m not going to sit in the council chamber for another five years and tell people that this will be addressed. I want to see the Minister coming to get this problem solved.
“The question is how much will all this cost. We had fire services from Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Killybegs and Letterkenny. The State has to look at the way they spend money.
“We need to start putting the horse before the cart because it’s no good handing out money like this,” he said.
The residents of Donegal Town have some breathing space today after this morning’s floodwater subsided and the high tide did not surge as feared. But for many, the clean-up has just begun.
