Residents and business owners near Clare’s coasts and waterways may be forced to abandon their properties in the coming years due to major flooding.
It follows the publication of a new government report this week which claims that Ireland’s sea level is on track to rise by at least 1m by the year 2100 due to the pace of global warming.
The National Coastal Change Management Strategy has identified a number of settlements in this county as high risk including areas of Miltown Malbay, Ballyvaughan, Lahinch, Kilkee, Newmarket, Clonlara and Ennis.
The report has reccommended major investment in existing flood defences, however it has warned that in some instances, a co-ordinated retreat away from the coastline may be neccessary.
Manager of the Monk’s Restaurant in Ballyvaughan, Patrick O’Donoghue says its vital action is taken now to prevent future devastation.
The timely publication of the report has coincided with mass flooding in recent days, which has destroyed hundreds of residential and commercial units in Middleton,Louth,Wexford and now Newry in County Down.
The development has led to the government proposing relief funding of up to €70,000 for affected proprietors.
In recent years , large scale investments have been made to deal with persistent flooding throughout this county, including a €1.79m project at Springfield in Clonlara, a €25m scheme announced for Ennis South last year and ongoing relief works as part of a €27m programme in Shannon.
Lahinch Green Party Councillor Liam Grant meanwhile believes its vital that the government follow the recommendations of the report and commit to providing suitable defence infrastructure in acutely affected areas.
You can listen to the full interview here:
