TD calls for new flood forecasts to be made public

Olivia Kelleher

The OPW and Met Éireann’s new flood forecasts should be made public instead of just being shared with emergency management stakeholders and local authorities, it has been claimed.

Met Éireann’s Flood Forecasting Centre has been operational since early last year. It was developed as of a government-wide approach to flooding in line with international best practices.

A team of hydrometeorologists work at the centre analysing hydrological, oceanographical and meteorological information to produce flood forecasts and guidance.

Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly praised the centre for its “incredible work” during an interview on The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk. However, he believes the forecasts should be in the public domain.

“It looks like the Government and the OPW have developed some software that is very valuable to local authorities in terms of informing our weather warnings,” he said.

“What Alan [O’Reilly of Carlow Weather] and other people, I’m sure, are looking for is access to that information.

“When it comes to weather forecasting, information is power, and there’s an opportunity here for the OPW, who have their controversial projects recently, this is an opportunity for a public win.

"But given there has been such public investment I think that there is a warrant for the likes of people in Cork who are always concerned about flooding, and understandable so.

If they had accurate information to help them better plan and prepare, it would be a no-brainer to me that the information be made available.”

Meanwhile, Mr O’Reilly told the show said he has been bringing up the issue for over two years with civil servants.

“I put in an FOI request to get a copy of one of these briefings that was given to the county councils last year.

“I got it a month after it was issued with no redactions whatsoever.

“So, I just cannot understand why that information that’s been provided to county councils cannot be made public on Met Éireann’s website.

“Even with the warning that the system is in development. “

Mr O’Reilly added that in times of crisis, people turn to the national forecaster to provide them with the information they require.

“I don’t think people in flood-affected areas expect to get forecasts from county councils.

“They expect to get it from Met Éireann; there is a flood forecasting team.

“They were spending millions on it… Over €4 million has been spent on it this year, which is really small change when you look at the impact of flooding.

“So, let’s just make the information that they have [public].”