OPW flood delays criticised

Flood-relief pilot projects have overrun by millions of euro, with some still incomplete almost a decade after they were due to finish, it has been revealed.

A litany of failures by the OPW over flood planning and prevention was described as “alarming” at the public accounts committee (PAC) yesterday.

Four pilot flood projects which were begun in 2005 have run almost 200% over-budget and two of these have yet to be finished, despite having a completion date of 2007. These budget and time overruns were described as a “learning” process by OPW chairwoman Clare McGrath.