Letter to the Editor - Political promises on Mountmellick flooding
The letter writer from Mountmellick expresses her concerns that promises to provide flood relief measures in Mountmellick and Portarlington were made in the heat of a general election campaign
Dear Editor
THE deaths, devastation and destruction caused by flooding in parts of Spain in recent days must surely act as a wake-up call to the Government and to the Office of Public Works that such
catastrophic events could happen here at home.
Hundreds of people, homes, and businesses were effected by flash flooding in Mountmellick almost seven years ago.
There’s been plan after plan and promise after promise that the issue would be addressed.
Since then, what actual major physical work has been carried out to alleviate local concerns?
None.
Maybe I’m being a bit cynical here, and on the run in to a general election, while the Taoiseach Simon Harris and the Minister in charge of the Office of Public Works Kieran O'Donnell were on a whistle-stop tour of Portlaoise on Friday Minister O’Donnell said it is intended the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme would be completed in three years’ time.
He also said flood mitigation works in Portarlington is expected to be completed in four-years’ time.
In the meantime, Minister O’Donnell said he wanted to see interim works carried out in the two towns, “immediately.”
Not good enough.
This Government have sat on their hands for the past seven years, while at the time the people of Mountmellick looked out their windows in dread every time it rained heavily.
So, in the dying throes of this Government were told to believe that all will be sorted in a few years’ time. Can we really believe these promises?
The people of Mountmellick have heard these promises so many times for well over 50-years that a new Relief Road for Mountmellick are in the works and yet not one brick has been laid.
Yours sincerely, Mountmellick resident.
