Environment

Refusal of Enniscorthy flood relief scheme criticised by OPW

Michael McGrath’s decision comes just months after heavy flooding in Wexford

Bobby-Leigh Swaine standing on a flooded street in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford in late December

Colm Keena
Sarah Slater
Sun Mar 6 2022 - 16:55

The Office of Public Works has expressed disappointment at the decision of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to refuse permission to commence a "critically required" flood relief scheme in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

The Minister, Michael McGrath, said he was refusing the OPW scheme based on the advice of environmental consultants and advisers.

The proposed scheme, said the OPW, would protect 159 homes and 167 businesses in the area from an ongoing risk of flooding, the most recent example of which occurred at Christmas.

“I can assure you that this is not a decision which was taken lightly,” the Minister said.

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He noted there has been a very significant increase in legal challenges to infrastructural projects in recent years involving their alleged non-compliance with environmental legislation.

“It is in everyone’s interests that this decision is made now, so that the OPW can proceed to consider the matters at hand and assess options available to mitigate the environmental issues identified in this process.”

Environmental impact

The Minister has directed that all of the information that led to the decision be published, so that there is a clear understanding of the potential environmental impacts that arose.

Among the matters that led to his decision was an assessment showing significant impacts to endangered and protected species such as the freshwater pearl mussel.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne (Fianna Fáil), who lives locally, said the scheme could be amended and resubmitted, and that funding remained in place.

Cllr Cathal Byrne, of Fine Gael, who is from Enniscorthy, said he was "furious" at the decision, which comes only two months after the town was flooded.

“Minister Michael McGrath’s decision is a huge blow and leads to the question of why Enniscorthy’s cry for help with our flooding situation wasn’t heard in the Minister’s office?”

A flood-relief scheme for Enniscorthy has been promised for nearly a decade.

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