Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government makes a commitment to ensure no homes are flooded and that flood relief measures are put in place throughout the country. During the recent heavy rain, we had incidents of very serious flooding in north Leitrim, north Sligo and other areas. Last Monday I visited a house outside Dromahair which was under 2 ft of water the day before. The furniture and other belongings were thrown out outside. A lady who was driving when that flooding happened had to get out of her car and wade waist-deep through water. She was fortunate because if she had gone off the road there could have been a tragedy. That is what is awaiting some of these areas if flood relief measures are not put in place immediately.

The river Bonet, which goes from Manorhamilton right through Dromahair, is in serious need of drainage works. Drainage works are also needed in other areas across north Sligo and north Leitrim. The Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for this, has come out and looked at all of this. It has published reports, but very little work has been done. The local authorities, which in some instances have responsibility, get very little funding for that. The Government needs to make a commitment not to have more engineers' reports but to have actual work done because that is what will save people's lives and prevent their homes from flooding.

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