Extreme floods sign of things to come, says White

Green Party Deputy Leader Mary White TD has welcomed the Government’s flood management plan which will go for public consultation in the coming weeks. Speaking from the flooded town of Carlow, which Environment Minister John Gormley visited today, the TD for Carlow / Kilkenny, said the cold reality of climate change had come as a shock to local residents.

“Extreme weather conditions, such as the mass flooding we’ve seen in Carlow town, Limerick, Dublin and in Belfast, can almost certainly be related to the changing weather patterns, as predicted by climate change experts. It is not until these weather conditions actually strike, that people realise the devastating effects that climate change will bring.

“I welcome the Government’s draft planning guidelines on flood risk management which will require national, regional and local planners to avoid development in areas at risk of flooding and ensure proper flood risk management is carried out before planning permission is given. These guidelines will go for public consultation in the Autumn.

“It is up to local authorities to assess their flood risks, to put flood management plans in place and prevent development on any flood plains. It is up to local politicians to ensure the proper legislation is in place to account for this.

“It is important that all political representatives, particularly at local levels, get behind the planning guidelines in place. Too often we have seen rezoning carried out on flood plains, with devastating results for residents who buy, unaware, that their home is at risk. We cannot have a continuing situation where the Minister for the Environment is forced to intervene in bad planning decisions at a local level to prevent future flooding disasters.”

Filed under: climate change