Ireland continues to assess damage after ‘monster’ flash floods

Council says lack of green areas caused flooding

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Flooded road in Blanchardstown, Dublin

Photo by Google Images

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The addition of extensions to homes and paving front lawns for cars contributed to Monday’s flash floods, according to Dublin City Council.

Defending their response to the “monster rain”, the council said that it had done everything within it’s power to protect the city from flooding.

Speaking to the Irish Times, the the council’s executive manager Tom Leahy said the city’s drainage system is unable to cope with the urbanization of the nation’s capital.

“The biggest problems are not with the new developments, but with older housing estates built in the 1940s and 1950s. When they were built they had a nice green environment, with front and back gardens,” Leahy said.
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“It was never envisaged that people would concrete over their front gardens for cars or build extensions covering their back gardens. The drainage system was never designed for that.”

Labour TD Aodhán Ó Riordáin empathized with the council as they struggle “with the new reality of changing weather patterns”, but he added it was “very simplistic” to criticize home owners.

“Blaming extensions and driveways, when many flood alleviation schemes are incomplete, including in Donnycarney where an underground river has been identified and people can’t get insurance on their homes, is very simplistic.”

View this video of the extensive flooding around Dublin taken from an Air Corps helicopter:

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