Last month's flooding in Co Meath did not happen because of building or development on flood plains but was due to "an incredible amount of rain falling over a period of a few hours", the county manager, Mr Tom Dowling, has stated.
The council must look at ways of ensuring people did not suffer again, and "that is what the council must focus on, and we can look at 'blame' some other hour", he said at this month's meeting.
In a 36-hour period, 90mm of rain, equivalent to a month's rainfall, fell. In some places flood levels were 400mm higher than those experienced in November 2000, and affected over 120 houses and businesses, said a report on the flooding.
The flooding in Dunboyne and Clonee, which was mirrored in parts of Dublin city, was evidence of a difficulty along the entire Tolka catchment area, which is now the subject of a major drainage study involving Dublin City and Fingal councils, the OPW and Meath County Council.
The outcome of the study is expected to be known in May, but councillors have asked for immediate measures to be taken to ensure that there is no repetition of what happened as a result of the November 14th rains.
"There is nothing as sad as standing in somebody's house which has been flooded for the second time; in Ashbourne some were flooded for a third time and they had no insurance," said Mr Conor Tormey (FF).
Mr Brian Fitzgerald (non-party) said he was on the council when lands in the Dunshaughlin area were zoned, and "there are some people around Dunboyne trying to demonise the Dunshaughlin area councillors".
"When that land was put forward by the planners for residential development, there was no report to suggest it was on a flood plain because it wasn't one."
When, in the mid-1990s, the council granted planning permission, it was appealed and An Bord Pleanála granted permission for an additional six houses along the riverbank, which the council had refused, he added.
Mr Dowling said tackling the problem would require "major Government funding and we need council resources built up to deal with a crisis situation".
"This did not happen by (the) building on flood plains, as has been made clear by consultants, officials here and the councillors."