Insurers ‘must offer cover after flood defence’

The Government has been urged to get tough on the insurance industry amid concerns that the most expensive flood defence project in the history of the State may not be enough to restore flood cover to thousands of affected homes and business.

The call came from business leaders in Cork City last night after Sean Canney, the minister of state with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, unveiled long-awaited details of the €140m flood defence plan which has been designed to protect the city from a once-in-a-century flood event.

The Lower Lee Cork City Drainage Scheme contains a raft of measures, including revised dam management procedures, and the introduction of flood warning and flood forecasting systems to protect up to 3,000 homes and businesses.