Sir, – Given the ongoing impact of recent flooding arising mainly from rainfall events, it is timely to consider whether the current focus on flood defence walls, “interim measures” and weather warnings, is well directed. Many of the areas that are currently suffering the effects of river flooding are areas that have experienced flooding in the past, often on multiple occasions. While “hard-engineered” solutions such as flood defence walls have a role, it is neither feasible nor desirable that all of our rivers, as they pass through our towns, should be surrounded by high walls. Unfortunately, there is rarely any focus on the more realistic policies that could greatly alleviate the impact of future flood events on urban areas. These lie within the area of “flood resilience” whereby properties that lie within known flood risk areas and that have a history of flooding can be adapted, with the assistance of appropriate government grants, so that, when they do flood, the consequences are much reduced.

Source: The Irish Times February 05, 2026 12:01 UTC