Taoiseach to co-ordinate 'essential' Fermoy weir repair project

Fermoy weir was damaged in a storm in 2016. File picture: Larry Cummins

The Taoiseach is taking direct charge of co-ordinating the repair of the Fermoy weir after venting "frustration" that various agencies and departments have tried to make the iconic North Cork landmark "someone else's problem".

Micheál Martin has warned that the project may go over a projected cost of €6m, but said work to repair and restore the weir, which was damaged after a 2016 storm, is essential.

"It is about pulling people together to make sure that this can be done, and we need to get it done otherwise costs will escalate," Mr Martin said.

"But it is important that it gets done for the leisure, sporting, fishing, and other activities, as well as for the wildlife, biodiversity, and so forth. 

"It is an important project, and I will certainly keep a focus on this." 

The Dáil heard that flooding in 2016 had greatly increased the flow of the river and a breach had eroded a section of the southern end of the weir. 

This threatened to scour the channel and undermine part of Fermoy's flood defences. 

It required urgent intervention by the OPW to stabilise part of the foundation. 

This breach also had the effect of lowering the river level upstream, which has impacted upon those using the river for recreation and leisure.

Promising to take action, the Taoiseach said he will convene a meeting between the OPW and the Department of Housing on the matter and said he has already spoken to several ministers in a bid to resolve the blockages.

"The documents are ready to go tender, but it seems to me that each department says that it is not their problem and is someone else's problem. 

"However, this can be resolved. We can find the capital for it," said Mr Martin.

"If we can pull people together, it will enable us to get this done. 

"It has to be done, and I am now taking it under my responsibility to make sure that we pull people together to enable us to get it done."

Mr Martin was responding to Fine Gael TD Noel McCarthy, who stressed that the weir is a very important part of the river and the wider Blackwater region, including a rowing club who now find it difficult to participate in their sport when the river is low.