Cork came close to catastrophe, warns OPW minister

During his visit to Cork, junior minister Patrick O’Donovan appealed to objectors to the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme to drop their legal challenge.

Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Patrick O'Donovan in Cork after the city was hit by heavy flooding. Picture: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

Cork City was “0.1 of a metre away” from a catastrophic event like 2014, and will be deluged “again and again and again” if the proposed Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme (LLFRS) does not go ahead, the minister in charge of the Office of Public Works (OPW) has warned.

Patrick O’Donovan came to Cork today to inspect the damage done by last night’s tidal event in the city centre.