Shannon Bank Residents Need Flood Protection
Issued : Tuesday 24 November, 2009
Limerick East Labour Party T.D. Jan O’Sullivan has called for a protective barrier to be considerd for the river side of Shannon Banks after families had to be evacuated from their homes last night.
There was heroic work done by the local community yesterday, by neighbours helping neighbours, carrying sandbags, directing traffic, wading through water to bring assistance. The Army, the Gardai, the Civil Defence, County Council and OPW officials, all played their part. I want to pay special tribute to my colleague, Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald, who never left his post directing operations right throughout the ordeal.
It was clear that most of the water was pouring in through the opening between the Scout Hall and the end of the Hampstead at the bottom of the Shannon Banks Estate. I realise that expert knowledge is required before any decisions are made but it seems to me and to others who live near the river, that a physical barrier should be erected to protect residents in future. It is most likely, given the extent of the basin of the River Shannon and the increasingly wet climate in Ireland that this flooding will happen again.
Flood protection measures taken in Limerick have been successful and I believe Shannon Banks must now be prioritised.
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