Monard oral hearing: Day 3: New town ‘won’t raise flood risk’

Contrary to local fears, the creation of a town 6km north of Cork City will not increase the flood risks in a city suburb.

The claim was made by Cork County Council experts who endeavoured to allay fears that building a 5,300-house town at Monard, near Blarney, would increase the likelihood of flooding in Blackpool.

Representatives from Blackpool businesses, whose premises have been repeatedly flooded down the years and most recently in 2012, said they were concerned that building Monard, on high ground near Blarney, would increase the risk of flooding downstream.