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Owners of Glenflesk homes that were flooded during the winter of 2015 or spring of 2016 may be considered for the Voluntary Home Relocation Remedial Works Scheme.

The Government announced details of this voluntary, once-off humanitarian scheme for homeowners last April.

Homes that were damaged by floods will be eligible, but only if they’re at a significant risk of similar damage from flooding again, cannot be protected by other possible flood protection or mitigation measures, and cannot obtain flood insurance.

As things stand, the only application in Kerry is in Glenflesk where, as our pictures show, flooding is a major concern.

Thanks largely to recommendations from politicians Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran and Michael and Danny Healy-Rae, Kerry County Council are working on a draft design for new flood defences, locals have been informed.

Incredibly, the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study (‘Flood Risk Review Site Inspection Report’ by Mott MacDonald) commissioned by the government said: “During the site visit (in Glenflesk) there were no visible signs of flooding within the area. The site is not an AFA (area for further assessment).”

“My house was in all three maps they produced over a five year period and was marked as not at risk of flooding,” one homeowner said.

“When they proposed flood defence plans for Glenflesk, we weren’t included. We live at the lowest point in the valley… It’s laughable. One of their plans outlined surrounding a section of Glenflesk with a 1.2 metre high mound, which funnily enough ran down the middle of the juvenile football pitch. I sent them back photos showing several feet of water in one field. It was only through the Healy-Raes that we are this far on.”