Consultants to advise college on flood measures

CONSULTANTS have been appointed to advise University College Cork (UCC) on future flood proofing measures, an Oireachtas committee was told last night as it began a fact-finding tour of flood ravaged areas.

The news emerged as college authorities briefed members of the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government, on the full extent of the damage caused by last November’s flood.

UCC’s final repair bill may not be known for another three months but it is expected it will exceed €25 million.

Members of the Oireachtas committee, who are investigating last winter’s floods, began their tour of Cork last night by meeting members of Fermoy Town Council. They then travelled to UCC – one of the worst-affected institutions – which was forced to close for a week such was the extent of the damage.

The committee members met college president, Dr Michael Murphy, and Mark Poland, UCC’s Director of Buildings and Estates, who outlined how a total of 29 UCC buildings were flooded. Some 30 of the university’s 80 acres was submerged in flood water.

A third of the university’s building stock was affected with 13% directly damaged at basement and ground floor levels.

Over 500 staff were impacted and about 2,000 students were forced to evacuate their student residences.

Mr Poland said he is very pleased with the progress of repair works considering the extent of the damage.

Most of the affected buildings are open and operating, despite some repair works continuing, and all students have moved back to their accommodation, he said.

The Mardyke Arena is due to open in a few weeks, more repair works at the Gateway Building will take place during the summer, and discussions around the replacement of some expensive hi-tech equipment is continuing, he said.

The focus is now turning to mitigation measures and the implementation of some low-cost steps to flood proof building stock, he said.

Consultants have also been appointed to assess the flood, consider the draft Lee CFRAMS study which was launched on Monday, and to issue specific recommendations on flood proofing for UCC, he said.

The committee’s tour continues today with a briefing from the city and county managers, a meeting with residents of Cork’s Middle Parish, a tour of the ESB dam at Inniscarra followed by meetings in Bandon, Skibbereen and Clonakilty later.

The committee is due to publish a full report in March on the management of severe weather events.