Short-term measures to protect against flooding in Listowel which were meant to begin in March, have not yet started.
The matter was raised at the recent Listowel Municipal District meeting, where councillors expressed frustration at the time the works are taking.
Over 100 people had to be evacuated from their homes when the River Feale burst its banks last November, in what was described as a once-in-a-150-year flooding event.
MWP Ireland engineering consultants produced a report, which recommended several short-term mitigations and that the design of long-term measures is progressed as part of a flood relief scheme.
It had been hoped that these short-term mitigation measures would take place in March.
At the recent Listowel MD meeting, Fianna Fáil councillor Jimmy Moloney asked if the Office of Public Works have given a commitment on when these short-term measures will commence in Listowel and Killocrim.
In response, the council wrote it has engaged Malachy Walsh and Partners to carry out an assessment, of progressing short-term flood defence works in Listowel as recommended in that report.
The council said the outputs of this assessment will be discussed with the OPW and subject to funding, will inform the next steps.
Cllr Moloney said there is frustration growing about the timeline for works, and asked if he’s supposed to go back to residents and tell them it’ll be another six or twelve month.
He said these are short-term works, which they were told would take a couple of weeks, and there is an intense worry for residents in the area when there is heavy rainfall.
Senior Executive Engineer with the council, Eoghan O’Brien, said the existing flood defence in the area gives a very high standard of protection and last November was not regular rainfall.
He added the short-term works in Killocrim are to restore what was in place prior to the event in November.
Sinn Féin councillor Tom Barry said the OPW had shown a lack of respect to residents.
