ESB to Face Questions at Oireachtas Environment Committee over Decision to Release Dam Water during Cork Floods
22nd Feb 2010
ESB officials responsible for deciding to release large volumes of flood water from Inniscarra Dam which may have contributed to extensive flooding in parts of Cork City will appear at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government, tomorrow, (23rd) at 3:45 pm.
The meeting is part of the Committee’s report examining adverse weather conditions and what preventative measures can be implemented to restrict the damage caused by severe weather.
As part of its investigation, last month committee members visited the areas of Cork badly damaged by the flooding and met with residents whose lives had been severely impacted.
Committee member Ciaran Lynch, TD, said: "During our visit to Cork, some of the residents we met were extremely critical of the ESB for their decision to release millions of tonnes of floodwater from Innisacrra Dam. They claimed they were not given adequate warning and that it contributed to extensive destruction to their homes, property and livelihoods. They were extremely angry and upset by the whole situation and clearly feel they have not received a proper response from the ESB.
However, when we visited Inniscarra the ESB defended their actions and claimed that the impact would have been worse had they not acted. Tomorrow’s meeting will allow the Committee to establish exactly why ESB took the course of action they did, if it was strictly necessary, if ample warning was given to Cork residents and whether the ESB were fully aware of the effects of their decision.”
Nicholas Tarrant, Glen Pope and Tom Barry from the ESB will attend the meeting.
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