The Minister for the Office of Public Works has been slammed for failing to fast-track a number of reports about flooding in Letterkenny and Ramelton.

It has been revealed in correspondence to Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal Charlie McConalogue that the OPW does not plan to publish its findings and recommendations on flooding in the Ramelton and Letterkenny areas until the second half of 2016.

The Donegal TD said: "The reports and studies that the OPW have commissioned will essentially advise what can be done to prevent flooding in these areas in the future. However the timelines outlined by the Minister are completely unacceptable and are essentially pushing any works even further down the road, until after the General Election. This leaves the communities of Letterkenny and Ramelton at risk of flooding this winter and next without any contingency plan in place.

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"The flooding of the past few years remains fresh in the memories of people whose homes and businesses were damaged by the high water. Letterkenny General Hospital was plunged into complete disarray on two separate occasions in 2013 and 2014 as heavy rainfall flooded the Emergency Department, forcing it to close. Meanwhile, in Ramelton, the local community centre was all but destroyed, and a number of homes were badly damaged by the floods.

"It is simply unacceptable that the Minister is aiming for a target date some time in mid-late 2016."

(CD/MH)