SCAFFOLDING ERECTED by Iarnród Éireann around a bridge over the river Dodder played no role in worsening heavy flooding in Dublin last October, a study commissioned by the rail company has found.
In fact it may have helped alleviate it, according to the report.
Record rainfall on October 24th last year caused flash-flooding costing tens of millions of euro in the capital.
Among the worst-affected areas were the Donnybrook, Ballsbridge and Irishtown areas. Such was the height of the river Dodder that the fire brigade had to be called to open a sluice gate, as a key could not be found for it.
There was damage at the bridge at Lansdowne Road, including erosion damage that led to the closure of the rail line for 11 days.
There was local speculation that scaffolding on the bridge at the time, which had been erected by Iarnród Éireann for maintenance work, might have exacerbated flooding.
The report published yesterday was carried out by Fluvio RD Ltd and led by professor of hydrology at University College Cork, Eamon McKeogh.
It finds the flooding in the area was caused by the high flood flow of the river Dodder, and by water pipes being overloaded
It says the scaffolding and build-up of debris at the bridge did not exacerbate flooding in the area.
A build-up of debris would have occurred without the scaffolding being present due to the low level of the bridge, the report adds.
