Lawlor demands urgent flood action for Enniscorthy
Lawlor demands urgent flood action for Enniscorthy - The Labour Party
- Storm Chandra exposes years of neglect
Labour’s George Lawlor TD for Wexford has today called for immediate Government action after Enniscorthy was flooded for the sixteenth time since 2001, as Storm Chandra left homes and businesses underwater, cars stranded, power cut and the town paralysed by traffic chaos. He said the scale of the damage exposes a long-standing failure to deliver real flood protection for the area and called on the local Minister to use his Cabinet influence to secure urgent action.
Deputy Lawlor said:
“Enniscorthy has now flooded sixteen times since 2001. That figure alone should shame this Government. Year after year, residents and businesses are promised progress, yet they are left to endure the same devastation again and again. Homes ruined, livelihoods threatened and families traumatised. Enough is enough. People here deserve safety and certainty, not recycled promises.
“The scenes from Storm Chandra were shocking but sadly predictable. Rivers bursting their banks, cars floating in driveways, homes without power and roads brought to a standstill. This was not a freak event. It is the result of years of inaction by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and a failure to take flooding and climate resilience seriously.
“Successive Governments have failed to deliver the flood protection works Enniscorthy desperately needs. As our climate changes, storms and extreme rainfall are becoming more frequent and more severe. Pretending this is business as usual is reckless. Communities like Enniscorthy are paying the price.
“Labour believes we need a fundamental shift in how the State approaches flood prevention. The OPW must be reformed and empowered to deliver protection works faster, manage rivers properly and take upstream land management seriously to reduce risk before floodwaters reach towns and villages.
“We also need to overhaul emergency preparedness, including a national flood warning system so families and businesses get timely and reliable information, and to learn from countries that have responded more effectively to these threats.
“This cannot be kicked down the road yet again. The local Minister, Minister Browne, sits at the Cabinet table and must use his influence now. Enniscorthy cannot wait for another storm and another disaster. Government must commit to real action, backed by funding and clear deadlines, to protect this town once and for all. Further delay is simply unacceptable.”