Cowen: No commitment on Cork flood defence

ANY spending to prevent further flooding in Cork will have be considered along with other public works priorities, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said.

Despite local pressure for a commitment to provide the €100 million needed to build defence mechanisms, he said the issue would have to be assessed by the Office of Public Works.

The estimated cost of preventing tidal and river flooding emerged in the Lee Catchment and Flood Risk and Management Study (CFRAMS) but Minister of State Martin Mansergh said at its launch this week that finding the money would be difficult.

The urgent need for the investment was raised by Cork’s Lord Mayor, Fine Gael councillor Dara Murphy, during a visit by Mr Cowen to the city last night. In a letter presented to the Taoiseach, he pressed for a Government commitment to the works and said the rationale that the cost would not equate to the benefit was utter nonsense.

Mr Cowen said that it is not just a question of spending money, but that the Government has to respond proportionately and appropriately. He said Mr Mansergh has asked all interested parties to make submissions to him and the OPW by April.

“What happened here in Cork was very, very unfortunate and thankfully a once-in-a-century event. But that being the case, it still means we have to find out in what way we can make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

“Whatever technical and other answers that are necessary will come from that process that we’re dealing with now,” the Taoiseach said during a visit to St Aloysius’ College in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.

Asked if the funding suggested by the expert study would be committed after the consultation phase, he cited the current economic difficulties.

“The Government is in a position now where, clearly you’re aware of what the financial situation is. But the OPW has plans and has budgets over coming years and priority will be given to those works that need to be done once they’re examined and decided upon,” Mr Cowen said.

“We just have to take this step by step. We will of course deal with this matter. But please be assured that it will get the priority it deserves from the OPW,” he said.

He said the OPW is the lead agency on the issue and has the technical expertise, having dealt successfully with flood relief works in towns which have had perennial problems.

“While what we saw was perhaps a once-in-a -century event the fact of the matter is that terrible damage was done, great inconvenience was caused and hardship brought to families,” said Mr Cowen.

“We have to try and make sure that we update our planning framework and make sure we make provision so that, on a phased basis in coming years, we can see what technical or structural issues need to be addressed.”