Cabinet row delays plans to relocate flood plain homes

A blistering row among Independent ministers at Cabinet over plans to relocate families living in flood plains has delayed approval of the scheme by several weeks, the Irish Examiner has learned.

The plan, developed by Office of Public Works (OPW) Minister Sean Canney, went before Cabinet three weeks ago only to be “savaged” and rejected by other ministers but most notably Communications Minister Denis Naughten.

Mr Canney has been accused by some ministerial colleagues of displaying a degree of inexperience in not ensuring the €2m plan was robustly “tyre-kicked” before going before Cabinet.