The Minister for the Office of Public Works admits he would like to see flood relief works throughout Clare progress more quickly.
Patrick O Donovan will visit the village of Clonlara today, along with Spanish Point, Miltown Malbay and Lahinch.
Recent announcements of projects getting underway in areas throughout county Clare have been broadly welcomed by residents of areas that have experienced recurrent flooding in recent years.
However, there are concerns about the potential timeframe surrounding these projects and whether they will be completed before more heavy rain hits next year.
Work on a flood embankment in Clonlara will now get underway in April 2021, with Clare’s Fianna Fail TD Cathal Crowe having previously admitted he would’ve liked to see it begin sooner.
Minister Patrick O Donovan has echoed these sentiments ahead of his visit to Clare, with residents in affected areas now facing a waiting game.
Homeowners in the Springfield area of Clonlara, meanwhile, have called on the OPW to begin preparing for the work now and to avoid any delays in completing the embankment there.
Resident Gerardine Quinlivan says they’re hoping to have the issue resolved once and for all – and has called on Minister O Donovan to ‘step up to the plate’ and fast track the project.