Taoiseach inspects Ennis damage

Forty families remained homeless in the Ennis area tonight as Taoiseach Brian Cowen stated earlier that the local flood damage would have been a lot worse but for the local emergency plan that was put in place.

As part of his tour of damaged flood areas today, Mr Cowen - in wellingtons - inspected the damage caused by the floods at Ennis's Gort Rd industrial estate before going to see the flood effects at Ennis’s Francis Street.

The clean-up was continuing in the town today as flood levels continued to recede.

Speaking to reporters after the tour and meeting with the inter-agency crisis management team at Clare County Council's offices, Mr Cowen said that the critical fact of the success in dealing with the problem was the local emergency plan put in place.

Mr Cowen said: “It is local personnel with frontline experience who know how to deal with this, know what the priorities are in every locality and who are getting on with co-ordinating the response.”

He added: “The local emergency plans are working very well and people are very determined to overcome whatever obstacles this challenge poses for them in each locality."

Mr Cowen said: “The community resilience is very evident to people who have seen the seriousness of the situation.”

Mr Cowen said that it is important where there is genuine hardship, humanitarian assistance will be provided.

Some 108 individuals – mainly from the local authority Oakwood Drive estate in Ennis – continue to receive emergency shelter at the West County Hotel in Ennis.

The residents have been staying at the hotel since last Friday when they were rescued by boat from their homes by army personnel.

Oakwood Drive resident, Sharon Hayes said that a number of homes in the estate were forced to leave pets behind during the army evacuation of the estate.

This evening, the homes were undergoing health and safety checks to assess the scale of the damage to the homes. Already, a number of the families have stated that they don’t know where they will be spending Christmas this year.

At the hotel, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has stated that community welfare officers, doctors, child care & social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists have worked through the last number of days to assist the families at the hotel.

The remaining families who were forced to evacuate their homes are staying with relatives and friends.

The HSE also confirmed that Capphard Lodge with 28 residents is still closed and the residents remain at Ennis General Hospital.

A Council spokesman said in excess of 20,000 sandbags have been deployed at various locations throughout Ennis since last Thursday and sandbags continue to be available.