OPW called upon to address Wexford village's flooding issues as the time for ‘temporary fixes is over’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

“Immediate action” and “dedicated funding” is required to address persistent flooding in the Wexford village of Castlebridge as residents continue to live in fear of their homes being destroyed. Calling upon the Office of Public Works (OPW) to intervene and provide the additional resources required to address the problem, local councillor Robbie Staples said a coordinated response is required to deliver long-term flood mitigation for the area.

Acknowledging the work already undertaken by district engineer Lar Lett, Councillor Staples said the scale and complexity of the flooding in Castlebridge, particularly at the junction and Oldtown Lane, means that additional resources and specialist expertise is required.

At the December meeting of the Wexford Borough District, Cllr Staples formally requested that Mr Lett engage with the OPW to secure further funding, allowing the council to appoint expert consultants and allocate the budget needed to examine the entire drainage network in detail.

“We must ensure that any improvements made in one location don’t unintentionally create problems elsewhere,” Cllr Staples said. “A full-network approach is essential. Residents and businesses deserve the confidence that their homes, livelihoods, and community spaces are properly protected.”

The Fine Gael councillor also highlighted ongoing concerns raised by residents of Mill Haven housing estate, where drainage and flooding issues have been repeatedly brought to the attention of the council. He noted that these matters have been raised at several meetings and now require decisive action.

“With Castlebridge experiencing repeated flooding events, and Mill Haven residents continuing to face unacceptable impacts, the time for temporary fixes is over,” Cllr Staples stated. “Immediate action and dedicated funding must be made available to complete the necessary remediation works. Our community cannot continue to live with the uncertainty and disruption caused by flooding.”