Emergency plan for flooding

Tipperary Co Council has an emergency plan in place to deal with flooding should the present situation escalate further.

While Tipperary may not be as badly affected as other parts of the country, the current flooding situation was discussed at this week's meeting of the council.
And, with many people conscious of flooding at the moment, Senior Planner Brian Beck encouraged members of the public to engage with the OPW's new CFRAM (Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management) proposals. The OPW has published maps showing areas for further assessment, and these are on display at the Civic Offices in Nenagh and Clonmel until December 23rd.
Mr Beck hoped members of the public would inspect the maps and make submissions. Public views would be taken on board in the making of future flood defence systems. He said the council would be discussing the issues further in January.
Cllr Seamus Morris (SF) welcomed the OPW study. When it is finished, the council should contact insurance companies to the tell them that this is the official document, as insurance companies are using their own reports in refusing insurance to houses near rivers, he said.
Cllr David Doran (SF) suggested that emergency funding may be required for parts of Tipperary that are badly affected by flooding.
Cllr Michael O'Meara (Ind) said the Lower Ormond area has been hard hit but wanted the message to go out that Borrisokane is still open for business. There have been major flooding problems in Borrisokane over the years but these have been solved through the new storm water system, Cllr O'Meara said. He also queried the role of the ESB in raising and lowering water levels on Lough Derg.
Cllr John Carroll (FF) said there are too many organisations with remit on the Shannon and there needs to be a greater coordination between all involved.
Cllr Ger Dary (FG) agreed that the ESB needs to provide greater notice of changing water levels on the lake. The level could drop by as much as 10 inches and no one would be told about it, he said.
Regarding the CFRAM study, Cllr Darcy agreed that people need to engage with the process as there could be implications for planning permission. Local knowledge should also be sought in preparing such plans, Cllr Darcy said, adding that the local drainage committees are continuing to do great work.
Cllr Jackie Cahill (FF) said Inland Fisheries need to lift the “ridiculous restrictions” that prevent people from cleaning rivers as part of flood mitigation measures.
Director of Services Karl Cashen assured the meeting that Tipperary Co Council has a major emergency plan in place for the county. This was launched last year with an in-house committee represented by various sections of the council. The committee would be meeting again this week, he said.
Mr Cashen added that the council's roads section has overall responsibility for flooding. The committee is part of a Mid West regional committee and also liaises with the gardaí on emergency matters.