Flood-hit families across parts of Dublin South West were left scrambling to save their homes and possessions last week after severe flooding struck areas including Rathfarnham and Scholarstown.
Labour climate spokesperson and Dublin South West TD Ciarán Ahern said he was devastated by what he witnessed in the constituency following the flooding last Tuesday week (27th) describing scenes he said highlighted a long-standing failure to prepare communities for extreme weather.
The flooding affected a number of residential areas, with some of the worst damage reported around Grange Park.
Deputy Ahern (pictured above) said the nearby Whitechurch Stream burst its banks overnight, leaving several feet of water on the road and sending floodwater into nearby homes.
“The flooding we’re seeing across my constituency of Dublin South-West in areas like Rathfarnham and Scholarstown is indicative of a country without the necessary infrastructure to cope with the changing climate,” he said.
“Witnessing the flood at Grange Park this morning was absolutely shocking and devastating for the community.”
While no serious injuries were reported, residents were forced to act quickly as water levels rose.
Deputy Ahern said families were left trying to protect what they could as floodwater entered their homes.
“Thankfully no one was injured, but families have been scrambling to save their possessions as floodwater came up through their floorboards,” he said.
“Cars have been destroyed and someone had to be rescued from a stranded car earlier.”
Emergency services and council workers were called to the scene in the early hours, assisting residents and dealing with dangerous conditions on flooded roads.
Deputy Ahern praised those who responded on the ground, saying their efforts made a real difference at a distressing time.
“I want to pay particular tribute to the council workers and members of the fire brigade who have been out in the elements since the early hours this morning helping people who had found themselves stuck and now working to clear debris,” he said.
“Their work is a lifeline to many at such an uncertain time.”
Deputy Ahern said the flooding was particularly frustrating given the history of similar incidents in the area.
He noted that the same road had flooded almost 20 years ago and said delays to long-promised flood prevention works had left the community exposed once again.
“This same road was flooded nearly 20 years ago in similar circumstances,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the Whitechurch flood alleviation scheme commenced construction approximately three years ago, yet it is still not completed.”
He said works on the project have been subject to a number of delays which he described as preventable, and questioned why flood alleviation schemes were not being prioritised despite the known risks to communities.
The flooding followed Storm Chandra and comes less than a year after Storm Éowyn, which was widely described as the worst storm to hit Ireland in decades.
Deputy Ahern said the sequence of severe weather events should have acted as repeated warning signs.
“The devastation of Storm Chandra underscores Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil’s failure to get serious on climate mitigation infrastructure,” he said. “Ireland’s climate patterns are changing.”
Deputy Ahern said expert advice at both international and national level has consistently warned that climate change is accelerating, and that delaying action on infrastructure will only increase the risk to communities like those affected last week.
“Climate change is a reality and it’s accelerating at a rapid pace,” he said.
“Getting our climate mitigation infrastructure to where it needs to be cannot be a long-term ambition. It needs to happen now.”