Objectors to Cork flood plans must be answerable if lives lost, says minister 

Legal challenges are delaying the delivery of flood defence schemes

Flooding at the Lee Fields, Cork. Patrick O'Donovan said the only thing that will mitigate flood risk is allowing the state agencies to get on and deliver the flood relief scheme for Cork city centre. File picture:Denis Minihane

Groups taking legal challenges which delay the delivery of flood defence schemes must be answerable if lives are lost in a flood event, the minister charged with delivering flood defences has said.

Patrick O’Donovan, the Minister of State with responsibility for OPW, made his comments during a visit to Cork City yesterday for updates on several schemes.