Report due on Cork flood disaster

The Oireachtas report into the disastrous flooding in November, including events that led to the River Lee bursting its banks, was being finalised today.

While the cross-party committee did not have the power to apportion blame to any authority, sources have indicated that the report includes a recommendation that an independent inquiry should be carried out to establish the events that led to the River Lee bursting its banks.

This would include dam management and other experts who would have the capabilities to investigate the matter.

Minister for Environment John Gormley previously said he would delay making a decision on whether an independent inquiry was needed until after the Oireachtas committee had finalised its report.

Included in the report, which detailed the response to the flooding nationally, is a case study of events on the night of November 19 when the River Lee burst its banks, as well as a report compiled by the ESB on its handling of the incident at the Inniscarra Dam.

It also contains data from Met Éireann and local authorities on their handling of the flooding.

Members of the committee also met and talked with victims of the flooding before compiling the official report.

This story courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.