Scheme to protect flood-prone Bantry will take at least a year to construct, minister says 

Furious business owners said they had been given promises of action following flooding of the town in 2020 but are still waiting for action

Joey O'Driscoll and Regina O'Mahony cleaning up after the flooding at the Second Hand Shop in Bantry. The severe floods in parts of Cork followed heavy rainfall. Picture: Dan Linehan

A culvert scheme to help prevent flooding in Bantry town will enter the planning stage later this month but is set to take at least a year to construct, according to the Office of Public Works (OPW) minister.

Minister Kieran O’Donnell gave an update on the scheme during a walkabout of Bantry, where he was met by business owners and householders affected by Saturday’s flooding of New Street and Main Street in the town.