WORK on the long-awaited flood defences for Clonlara will start next April.
That’s according to local Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe who has received confirmation that work on the long-awaited flood defences for Clonlara is about to get underway.
“The area has been badly hit by years upon years of flooding that has, in some cases, seen people forced out of their homes, but a glimmer of hope is now on the horizon.
“My hope had been that we would see work begin quicker than this but I am now reliably informed that April will be the commencement date,” said Deputy Crowe.
“This is hugely positive news and should give huge protection to homes and land holdings in the locality.
“Clonlara’s struggle is much more than dramatic – aerial footage of water spreading across low lying farmlands shows the real scale of the devastation.“This is hugely positive news and should give huge protection to homes and land holdings in the locality.
“Flooding like what has been seen in Clonlara was once touted a one in 100-year phenomenon – now it’s an annual or bi-annual event and this solution is long overdue.
In the Dáil, Deputy Crowe also told Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan that there is also a need for a channel of the River Shannon, in close proximity to Clonlara, Castleconnell and Plassey in Limerick, to be cleaned of debris and silt.
Deputy Crowe also called for a change in how planning objections are raised after the project was delayed by a submission from a person living in Dublin,
“This can’t be allowed to continue,” he said.
