Louth TD tells Dáil flood defence in Dundalk 'not up to scratch'

Sinn Féin TD for Louth Ruairí Ó Murchú has told the Dáil that flood defences in Dundalk are 'not up to scratch'.

He highlighted areas such as Blackrock and Ballagan which have suffered significant flooding. While he acknowledged that Minister of State for for the OPW Kevin 'Boxer' Moran had visited Blackrock in December, he said the introduction of CFRAM (catchment-based flood risk assessment and management) needs to be advanced. 

Deputy Ó Murchú said applications for CFRAM are only set to be made in June 2027, and said more needs to be done in the short-term to prevent continued flooding in the town.

"We have finally received promises to clean the River Blackwater and The Ramparts. We have seen the introduction of pumps. We need to ensure that Louth County Council has access to them always, uses tankers and that we do the best we can in the disaster scenario."

"I am talking about Bay Estate, where I live, Cluan Enda, Greeenwood Drive, Blackwater Court, Ashbrook or basically anywhere around Red Barns Road and St. Alphonsus Road," he said. 

Deputy Ó Murchú said it was lucky hundreds of houses weren't left flooded and raised concerns about the pumping station on the Coes Road which he said is pumping sewage and storm water. 

"The fact is it is not going to upgraded completely. Works will start in about 2027 but will not finish until 2029 or 2030, according to the council. Even worse, the wastewater treatment plant is not due to be upgraded until 2033. There is no capacity and we are lucky we did not have hundreds of houses flooded," he said. 

Minister Moran acknowledged the situation saying he was "fearful" and that his "biggest concern was County Louth" when further rain was forecast. 

"When I visited the place during Christmas week, I identified areas that could get protection. I looked at the street and we identified one shop, a chemist, that did not flood. Why did it not flood? It put in its own individual property protection, IPP."

"I reached out that day to the local authorities to look at an IPP system through the minor works programme. I await that because I cannot drive it. I ask the Deputy to drive that with the local authority," he said. 

Minister Moran encouraged local authorities to "push on" and said he is providing staff to "deliver on those schemes". 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.