Sir, – Further to Anne Marie Kennedy's letter(November 19th) in relation to flooding in Craughwell from the Dunkellin river, while the Office of Public Works (OPW) makes every effort to assist communities in which flood events are occurring, responsibility for emergency response in such situations is a matter for local authorities, in this instance Galway County Council.
Following a call to the OPW’s regional office in Headford from a resident in Craughwell, the OPW advised the council to contact our office should it require assistance.
The OPW’s limited staff resources were dealing with flooding issues in those areas where the office has a statutory responsibility. The OPW has no statutory responsibility regarding the Dunkellin river at Craughwell, but nevertheless would have endeavoured to provide assistance if called upon by the council.
A senior engineer from the OPW called out to Craughwell on the afternoon of November 16th and observed that the council had taken charge of the matter, with sand and sandbags being provided, and that the Garda was directing traffic in advance of the council setting up traffic lights on the road, which was partially flooded.
Hydrometric staff from the OPW were also there and in other areas taking flow measurements, which is part of their job, but which is particularly useful for recording flood events.
Following the visit to the area by the senior engineer, contact was again made with Galway County Council, offering assistance on the following day. As the peak of the flood was reached in the early evening, such assistance was not sought.
Galway County Council has developed proposals to deal with the Dunkellin flooding problem and in November 2014 submitted those proposals to An Bord Pleanála for approval. An oral hearing took place at the end of October and a decision is expected before the end of this year. The OPW has provided funding and technical advice to the council to develop the proposals for the Dunkellin and will fund the scheme of works to be undertaken by the council, subject to planning approval.
As part of the OPW’s customer charter, we have committed to endeavouring to respond to written correspondence within 20 days of receipt of such correspondence. This is contained in an automated response which Ms Kennedy would have received from her email to the OPW.
In most instances, responses will be issued in a much shorter timeframe. – Yours, etc,
COLETTE DAVIS,
OPW Press Officer,
Trim,
Co Meath.