People in Dundalk left in "very precarious scenarios" due to flooding Dáil hears

Sinn Féin TD for Louth Ruairí Ó Murchú has told the Dáil a large number of people in Dundalk were in "very precarious scenarios" because of flooding. 

Deputy Ó Murchú praised the work of the fire service and Louth County Council staff who were working "out of hours" to prevent properties becoming flooded. 

He said there were issues throughout the region, in mid-Louth, Ravensale and Jenkinstown and said he had dealt with people on the Ardee Road who were flooded because of the River Blackwater.

The Sinn Féin TD also said areas such as Bay Estate, Cluan Enda and Greenwood Drive, Greenacres, the Red Barns Road and St. Alphonsus Road were particularly badly affected.

Deputy Ó Murchú said ageing infrastructure and increased housing has lead to a lack of wastewater capacity. He said the pumping station at Coes Road cannot deal with the amount of water coming through. 

“It will be 2029 or 2030 before it is upgraded. The treatment plant on the Point Road has a design capacity for a population equivalent of 71,000. This is going to be upgraded to 120,000, but that could take until 2033," he said.

However, Minister for State Thomas Byrne said the cause of specific flood incidents in Dundalk remain unclear and a full post-incident review will be undertaken once conditions stabilise.

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While Deputy Ó Murchú welcomed the review, he said the same areas of Dundalk are consistently flooding when it rains. 

“We need to look long term at some of the mitigation works that can be carried out. We need to see CFRAM work being done in relation to the Blackwater, but, first and foremost, it must be accepted that we do not have the necessary capacity in the wastewater treatment system in Dundalk."

“I spoke to a man earlier today who, as the water dissipated, is looking at sewage on his property. That is because it is a joint sewerage and storm-water system. Therein lies the problem," he said.

“The water treatment plant cannot take it. The Coes Road pumping station is where the blockages occur. There is WuXi and a huge number of industrial operations and estates from where the water literally shoots down. It fills the pipes to absolute capacity. 

“This causes a logjam in the system, which then cannot be pumped out. The water builds up and pools in estates such as ours as a result. It is not just water, however, because we are talking about a combined system. The problem gets even worse at high tide.

“We really need to see long-term fixes with upgrades and through CFRAM. In the short term, there needs to be a solution.

“We could definitely mitigate the issues we have in Dundalk, particularly those that impact the people who live in the Bay Estate and Cluan Enda. We really need a solution”