Cowen to face pressure over city flood defences

THE Taoiseach will face pressure today over the need for a €100 million flood defence system for Cork city.

Brian Cowen is due to visit the city for a series of engagements before addressing the Cork Chamber President’s dinner this evening.

The visit comes just days after the draft Lee CFRAMS study on the flood risk and hazard in the entire Lee catchment said the city would need a €100 million flood protection scheme if changes to the management of the ESB’s Carrigadrohid and Inniscarra dams can’t handle flood-risk.

But such complete defences may be “cost prohibitive”, the report said.

The minister with responsibility for flood management, Martin Mansergh, said the Government could not commit to that level of investment.

But Cork’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Dara Murphy, will ask Mr Cowen to justify that position today.

In a letter which will be presented to Mr Cowen later, Mr Murphy will point out that the cost to the city of last November’s devastating flood will be far in excess of €100 million, and that future uncertainty could threaten investment. Building a proper flood defence system for the city is in the national interest and will ensure proper regional development, he said.

Meanwhile, the Oir-eachtas Committee investigating last winter’s flood has begun its tour of Cork.