Engineers Ireland calls for greater co-ordination between flood management bodies.

Families won't be home for Christmas in flood-hit areas - locals want assurances there won't be a repeat of devastation.

A total of 35 families are still being cared for in emergency accomodation in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, as a result of the flooding - and most will be unable to return to their homes before Christmas, it emerged last night. In all, 160 householders were severely affected by the flooding on the western side of the town after the river Shannon burst its banks and flowed through Clonown and into homes and businesses.

Last night, families and owners of businesses in the area attended a meeting in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in the town to hear details of the recovery process. Although flood levels are receding, many homes are expected to be still under water for at least another week. Many people are angry at the loss of belongings and personal items, some of which will never be replaced, even by insurance cover.

Homeownes were last night warned to check the references of contractors turning up to offer theor services to flooded homeowners. "Make sure the people you get are reputable contractors," Westmeath county director of services, Barry Kehoe, told the large attendance.

Propoerty owners have been given gloves, overalls, buskers and disinfectant as the clean-up gets underway. The council has also hired a contractor to monitor vermin movement.

There was also anger and dismay at a meeting in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, attended by more than 400 people - many of them vistims of the flooding which devastated parts of the town.

Town clerk, Alan Farrell, told the Irish Independent yesterday that the council was still reviewing the events of the past fortnight, since the River Suck burst its banks. "We will be working with the various agencies, particularly the Office of Public Works, to see if there are particular issues that should be addressed in relation to the river", he said.

Organiser of the Ballinasloe meeting, Pearce Flannery, said that the main aim now had to be to ensure that Ballinasloe was properly "shored up" so that there would not be a repeat of the flooding next year. "Every town that is facing flooding must be given priority status now, so that next year, people are not facing losing their belongings again - and remember, next year the chances are they won't even get insurance," he said.

Flood defences had proved crucial in protecting the centre of Ennis from the deluge, it emerged yesterday. Town engineer, Eamon O'Dea, revealed that had the first phase of the €25m flood defences not been in place along the River Fergus, the flooding would have reached Dunnes Stores in O'Connell St, the Market area and Parnell St.

Meanwhile, Engineers Ireland, which represents 24,000 engineers, called yesterday for greater co-ordination between flood management bodies. Director General, John Power, proposed that the relevant bodies collaborate with Engineers Ireland to drive the formulation of an action plan with short-term implementable measures. "This initiative could be undertaken at a fraction of the cost incurred rather than if the government were to employ international consultants", Mr. Power said.

In Mayo, damage caused by a one-hour summer deluge has been estimated at €2m. The rainstorm which hit the county last July triggered landslides and damaged roads, bridges and culverts, mostly in the Tourmakeady, Glenisland, Newport and Mulranny areas.

Mayo County Council commissioned a report which revealed that the total cost of reinstating the public infrastructure is €1.97m.

Brian McDonald and Eoghan MacConnell
Irish Independent
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

On January 28th 2010, Engineers Ireland will be running a CPD Training event entitled "Flood Prevention, Control and Planning". To attend this event please visit our  CPD Training section .