Budget for Ennis flood relief doubles to almost €20m

Office of Public Works acknowledge that the rise in costs were as a result of 'unexpectedly' poor ground conditions

A waterfall created by the flooding at the outer wall of St Flannans College, Ennis, Co Clare. Picture:  Eamon Ward

The Office Of Public Works (OPW) has acknowledged that the budget for a new flood control scheme in Co Clare has nearly doubled to close to €20mn due to ‘unexpectedly’ poor ground conditions.

Meanwhile, no response was given by the OPW to a question by Fianna Fáil’s Marc MacSharry about similar cost overruns for flood control works at Midleton.