Recent calls to dredge the rivers around Bantry to stop future flooding by Deputy Michael Collins have been countered by environmentalists, after comments made by the Independent Ireland leader in the Dáil.

Flooding in Bantry, Ballinascarthy and Ballylickey was the first item on the agenda at a meeting on Wednesday last week, where Deputy Collins claimed that the main reason for flooding was that the rivers around Bantry had not having been cleaned out, or dredged.

The Cork South West TD also levelled criticisms at the government, saying that it has failed to deliver a proper flood relief scheme in Bantry for decades. Deputy Collins made reference to Julie’s Diner in the town, maintaining that the business had flooded 43 years ago, and was still getting flooded today. Deputy Collins also referenced the OPW’s proposed 2031 construction date for Bantry’s flood relief scheme, as reported in The Southern Star two weeks ago. However, environmental groups have responded to the call to dredge rivers, urging caution over the potential for damage to waterways, and the potential failure to deal with the real causes.

DAMAGE DONE

Recounting her memories of flooding, Valerie Ward, who is also Deputy Collins’ parliamentary assistant, said she had seen the extent of flood damage done in the area over the years. Ms Ward, whose parents used to own Julie’s Diner in Bantry, said she remembered ‘walking up through the Square at around twelve years of age with water up to my thighs. We obviously had to close down our business, as did other businesses. It was nothing new though, as we were used to it. We waded up to Jimmy Crowley’s bar because my mother couldn’t access her car through the water. We sat in the bar on bar stools with our legs swinging in the water (madness!)

‘I can’t remember whether we waited for a lift or waited for the water to subside, but I do remember going back into our business once the water receded. The damage that was done, the dirt that it brought and the cost to the business is something I have never forgotten. This happened many times over the years.’

‘LITTLE REAL BENEFIT’

Maggie McColgan, CEO of Bantry-based Streamscape, said the long-term, sustainable approach was to work with nature, not against it.

‘With all due respect to Deputy Collins, dredging rivers in the Bantry catchment area would offer little real benefit and could even create new problems. The main issue lies upstream, where the natural floodplains that once absorbed and slowed floodwaters have been built over or modified for profitability. As a result, the river now has very few places where it can naturally slow down or temporarily store excess water during heavy rainfall.’

Another group raising awareness of the effects of river dredging is the Environmental Forum, based in Enniskeane. The forum’s development coordinator, Bernie Connolly, pointed out that dredging ‘is a very invasive and harmful practice, and we should be looking for better less damaging nature based solutions like the ones happening in other countries, such as in Nijmegen in the Netherlands or in Pickering in the UK.

‘Many of our issues with flooding are reaping the rewards of extremely poor planning which was short-sighted, such as building on flood plains, draining land and eliminating wetlands, and channelising rivers instead of allowing them to flow naturally.’

Minister of State Noel Grealish responded to Deputy Collins’ motion in the Dáil by saying the government had been able to protect two-thirds of people in Ireland affected by flooding. Since 2018 the government had successfully delivered 100 of 150 schemes, he said.  Minister Grealish added that Cork County Council was currently delivering six flood relief schemes, with funding for nine dedicated staff coming from the Office of Public Works (OPW).

However, Deputy Collins said that the ‘can had been kicked down the road’ in relation to the flood relief scheme in Bantry, and that the OPW and Cork County Council were ‘passing the buck’.

‘The bottom line is that the flood relief scheme is too far away, if construction starts in 2031.’

However Minister Grealish said he wanted to assure Deputy Collins and the house that he was committed to delivering the flood relief scheme, while also encouraging Cork County Council to access additional funding through the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation and Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

‘I know it’s frustrating for people and businesses when their properties are flooded’ said Minister Grealish.

‘I experienced it first-hand myself. Water does a lot of damage. I will raise the issue with the Minister.’