Enniscorthy Chair Says Flood Defence Scheme A Priority Next Year

The new chair of the Enniscorthy Municipal District says 2027 will be the year we finally see progress on the flood defence scheme.

Fine Gael's Pat Kehoe was elected to the position for the first time on Friday.

The Marshalstown man says he will be a willing ear for the people of the region and will work hard to get things done.

Councillor Kehoe says the long awaited flood relief scheme is top of the agenda for him:

"We're looking like quarter one of 2027 for when it will go to planning.

"That'll be phase one which will incorporate the removal of the Seamus Rafter Bridge, the installation of a new pedestrian bridge and the building of a new river bridge.

"Hopefully that'll be on the way soon."

Councillor Kehoe also says all areas of the Enniscorthy District will benefit from council support over the next 12 months.

He replaces the outgoing chairwoman Barbara Anne Murphy who was a great advocate for Bunclody and the northern half of the district.

Councillor Kehoe says the rural areas of the district will get a look in under his leadership:

"As I've always said, our district goes from Abbeytown Road in Clonegal the whole way out to Galbally.

"Bunclody I know is getting their CCTV which will be going live now in September.

"That was on the back burner and in the pipeline there for about 10 years so that will be a huge thing for the town."

"I know there's work going on at the community hall in Ballyhogue as well, we're hoping to have that completed by June 2027."

The Fine Gael man says a balance will be found between maintaining existing roads and building new ones.

He says keeping the roads up to standard is a difficult task but they're ready for the challenge:

"We've over 600 kilometres of roadways to maintain and improve.

"Look we're constantly trying to find the funding and I know working with the District Engineer that it's a struggle always.

"That's why we need to find a balance of maximising the amount of improvement works we do and new roads so it's a big ask."

This report was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.