Posted online: Dec 4th, 2009

By Sinéad Flanagan
Editor

WITH TENS of thousands of gallons of water being pumped out of a flooded housing estate in Sallins, the full impact of the damage is becoming clear.
Many of the residents were first time buyers, whose dreams were dashed in a few hours on Sunday as water splashed into their homes.
Now, with the water under control the clean up operation will soon begin. With floors, kitchens, toys, Christmas presents, couches and bed destroyed, many are unsure of where to even begin.
With the clean-up likely to run into millions, the management companies for the development under the umbrella of Wyse said: “We have placed the insurance brokers, Willis, on notice of claims from both management companies, Kerdiffstown Court Management Company Limited & Pluvia Management Company respectively.
“We have appointed a project management team who are responsible to assess and administrate the claim on behalf of the management company.”
Though it is understood the company responsible for building the €100m development, G&K Building Company went into receiverships on 22nd May 2009, residents are anxious to find out what this means for their homes.
Kildare County Council and the Civil Defence set into action along with the management companies last weekend when the flooding took hold. Pumping water out, the volume appeared to be getting no smaller until Tuesday, when they finally appeared to be getting on top of it.
Residents were ferried over and back by the civil defence who worked tirelessly to help people retrieve what they could from their homes.
In a statement released by Wyse, it was claimed: “Our office has been previously in communication with Kildare County Council on a number of occasions by telephone and email to advise of the drainage problems and the potential risk of flooding in this area.”
However, the Council is adamant that responsibility for the development is with the builder and the management company as they have not yet taken the estate in charge. Unclear of whether communication was received from the company on the matter, the Council say “it is the responsibility of owners of the property and/or management to maintain the property and to ensure it has proper drainage.”
It is thought that it will take a number of weeks before residents will be able to move back into their homes.