This article is from page 17 of the 2011-11-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
ENNIS should take priority over other parts of the county when it comes to the allocation of staff by Clare County Council, a meeting has heard.
The view was expressed yesterday by Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) as concern was raised over the impact of localised flooding on roads and churches in Ennis and Clarecastle.
A section of the Kilrush Road near Gallows Hill; St Joseph’s Hospital, Ennis and the Parochial House in Clarecastle were highlighted as three areas prone to “ponding” and road flooding, at meetings of councillors in the Ennis electoral area.
In response to motions tabled by councillors Johnny Flynn (FG) and Pat Daly (FF) regarding flooding on the Kilrush Road, senior executive engineer Eamon O’Dea stated, “The council has used a power jetty to clear the outlet from the gully at this location. This gully discharges to a soak away in this grass margin on the opposite side of the road.”
He added, “The council is examining the existing storm drains in the area to see if this location can be discharged to a storm sewer, otherwise the soak away will be renewed.”
The committee chairman, Cllr Brennan, told the meeting that the issue had existed at the Kilrush Road for a number of years. He said that there is a danger that “someone will be killed there” because pedestrians are stepping onto the road to avoid the water.
He said the biggest problem in the Ennis area is the absence of council staff. He said that Ennis is the county capital with a population of 30,000 and as such, should take priority when the council allocates staff to work in particular areas.
“We have tried working from the outside in, maybe we should be working from the inside out,” he added.
Agreeing with Cllr Brennan, Cllr Flynn said there “is huge pressure on Ennis area offices because of a lack of staff”.
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) raised the issue of flooding that occurs outside the old Parochial House, Clarecastle. Cllr Murphy stated that “rainwater from the Creegaun na Hilla estate flows straight across the roundabout (bypassing the gully trap to the side of the roundabout) and lodges at the entrance to the Parochial House, causing a lot of annoyance to callers to the house and to mass goers, particularly at night time.”
Mr O’Dea said the council will examine the road levels at this location and “endevaour to reduce the impact of rainfall run off in this area”.
A meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area heard that church-goers found it difficult to attend Mass because of floods at the rear of St Joseph’s hospital.
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) told the meeting that flooding was a specific problem for elderly residents in the area.
Mr O’Dea stated that the council will examine the location to “see if there is a feasible method to dispose of the storm water”. However, he added that “any works will be subject to available resources”.