Soaring construction costs may sink Cork flood defence scheme

The original bid about a year ago for the Glashaboy river flood relief scheme in Glanmire was €14m. Now it could cost €17m to deliver

Flood debris on the banks of the Glashaboy River in Glanmire in 2012. The flood caused tens of millions of euro of damage to properties in the Glanmire and Sallybrook area. File picture: Larry Cummins

Soaring construction costs have put a major flood defence scheme in Cork in doubt and prompted fresh calls for a review of public works contracts.

The preferred bidder who was poised to sign contracts and start work within weeks on the Glashaboy river flood relief scheme in Glanmire has raised concerns about the impact of soaring costs, particularly in relation to steel and concrete, on the scheme which was valued at €14m when it was advertised for tender about a year ago.