Cork City tidal barrier ruled out on cost basis

The construction of a tidal barrier to protect Cork city from floods has been ruled out again on cost grounds.

Flood defence Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran said preliminary findings from a near-complete Office of Public Works-commissioned report on the costs of a tidal barrier suggest the structure is not viable, and would cost many times the figures suggested by the Save Cork City group which is leading opposition to the State’s largest single investment in flood defences.

The Minister said an independent report released by the campaigners last week, which costed their alternative tidal barrier plan at €140m, lacked detail on cost breakdowns and did not adequately address several fundamental issues, including navigation and environmental constraints.