CONSIDERATION SHOULD be given to restoring floodplains on farmland to prevent a recurrence of what happened in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, An Taisce has proposed.
The organisation believes the traditional methods of dealing with floods such as fortifying river embankments and raising the ground level of new buildings are actually contributing to the problem.
An Taisce heritage officer Ian Lumley said using agricultural land as a floodplain, which would mean that fields bordering rivers could be used just for grazing, is a controversial measure which would be opposed by farmers.
However, he said dealing with the kind of flash floods which occurred in Newcastle West is now a more pressing issue because of global warming, which will see rainfall becoming more intense and localised.
"Internationally, the whole focus of government policy across Europe has been to support the reclamation of land for agriculture purposes. The result is that this has narrowed and speeded up the waterfalls of Irish and major European rivers, making them much more susceptible to flooding," he said.
"The answer is to restore the upstream capacity of the river basin to absorb floodwater. That was always the case with rivers in the past. I know it's a radical solution. The issue of compensation for farmers would be controversial, but if we really want to protect towns like Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir, Fermoy and Mallow, we need to look seriously at this."
A public meeting of those affected by the flooding in Newcastle West took place at the Ballintemple Inn in the town yesterday evening. A fund to help those worst-hit has been set up by the local Lions club.
The flash floods occurred when 92mm of rain (some four inches) fell in the space of a couple of hours on Thursday night and early on Friday morning last week.
The rains caused the river Arra to burst its banks for the first time in living memory. Damage is likely to run into millions of euro, as at least a dozen houses and businesses were destroyed by the flood.
Newcastle West local councillor Patrick O'Donovan said: "Some people have been literally left with nothing. They were left with the clothes on their back. They are looking for assistance to restore their dignity and their houses."
Those who wish to contribute can do so at any AIB branch, to a special account whose number is 02019032, sorting code 93 52 39.