ESB to keep discharging water from Parteen Weir

The ESB will maintain current discharge levels from the Parteen Weir at 440 cubic metres per second (cumecs).

Clare County Council said water levels on Lough Derg stabilised yesterday morning, while levels on the lower Shannon, at Clonlara, recorded a small drop.

The flood response operations in the last 10 days have resulted in a “significant cost” to the council. It is expected costs to date will be more than €900,000.

“The severe weather events experienced since Friday, December 4th, have required the full deployment of council personnel to manage the overall situation,” said Anne Haugh, director of services.

"Crisis management arrangements have been put in place and utilised as necessary with the full co-operation and support of An Garda Síochána, HSE, the Defence Forces and the Department of Social Protection.

“The investment in flood defences since 2009, including the schemes on the river Fergus, Gort Road Business Park, Aughanteeroe and Fior Uisce has significantly reduced the impact on the county town.

Sandbag duty

“During the weekend, a total of 65 Army personnel were deployed to assist Clare County Council. Approximately half the troops were engaged in addressing the flooding problems in southeast Clare with the rest assisting with sandbag duty in Ennis on Saturday. Approximately 20,000 sandbags were utilised or distributed throughout the county in preparation for and in response to widespread flooding on Saturday. Community sandbag operations were put in place at the mart, Ennis, Clareabbey in Clarecastle and Parteen GAA Club in Westbury, southeast Clare.

“While flood levels have receded somewhat at this point and levelled off, the outlook really will be largely determined by the amount of rainfall over the coming days and/or the impact of any further increases in waters released by ESB from Parteen Weir.

“In the interim, council crews, the Civil Defence and the Fire Service remain on standby to respond to flooding situations wherever they should occur.

“We also are advising motorists to slow down when driving through flood waters on public roads for safety reasons and to minimise the impact on adjacent properties, particularly in urban locations. The advice continues to be not to drive through flooded road situations.”