By Diarmaid Doherty
DONEGAL General Election candidate Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher has this morning made direct contact with An Tánaiste Micheál Martin to appeal for assistance following the horrific overnight flooding which hit Bridge Street in Killybegs.
Businesses and property owners have been left devastated after the severe flooding which hit on Friday night.
Images on social media show torrents of water sweeping through the narrow streets, covering parked vehicles and flooding into properties.
This morning, Mr Gallagher is requesting immediate Government support for all the businesses, households and property owners directly impacted by the flooding.
He is also asking for the Government’s Humanitarian Assistance Scheme to be activated without delay.
“This scheme prevents hardship by providing financial support to people whose businesses and homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are unable to meet costs for essential needs, household items and structural,” he said.
“It is essential that flooding prevention measures are put in place.
“Previously when I was last a member of Dáil Éireann I had constantly raised this issue.
“Such measures now need to be fully implemented to prevent recurrent flooding of this area.”
Meanwhile Sinn Féin election candidate Cllr Noel Jordan said the OPW flood relief schemes for the area need to be fast-tracked.
“Last night’s flooding in Killybegs, Donegal Town and the Frosses area is yet another example of how serious progress needs to be made on the delivery of flood prevention in south Donegal,” he said.
“Yet again, we have seen the devastation caused by flooding in the region.
“What must happen now is that the OPW fast-track their flood relief schemes for the area and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment must open up – as they have done previously – their Emergency Humanitarian Scheme to help people and businesses affected.”
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