Cork councillors to invite OPW minister to Youghal to explain why flood works have not started

Councillors heard while some coastal protection flood works had been undertaken in the town, a second phase promised around 2011 still had not started and residents were suffering repeated flooding

Sea barrier walls in Youghal promised 15 years ago have not been delivered, councillors told. Picture: Larry Cummins

Office of Public Works (OPW) minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran is being invited to a coastal town in Co Cork to explain why flood works promised there about 15 years ago still have not started.

At the time, residents in parts of Youghal were informed the OPW would carry out flood works to protect them from persistent tidal flooding.

Youghal-based Independent councillor Mary Linehan Foley said while some coastal protection flood works had been undertaken in her hometown, a second phase promised around 2011 still had not started.

In the interim, people living in the ‘back street’ and on Quarry Road have repeatedly suffered flooding because promised protective sea barrier walls have not been installed there, she said.

“Are we not shouting hard enough? We were promised these by the OPW years ago. I’m a bit peeved with this, to be honest. There’s another winter coming and houses being flooded again,” she told a meeting of the East Cork Municipal District Council.

Ms Linehan-Foley said coastal protection works completed in other parts of the town were very effective.

“We get high tides all the time here, and we’re still waiting for this project. I’d like a response from the OPW. It seems as if we’re being forgotten down here,” she added.

Municipal chair, Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern said such projects as these had been put on the long finger way before Storm Babet hit the region in October 2023.

She said it was unfair on the people of Youghal, who continue to suffer on a regular basis.

“There is no way this should be happening 15 years on. It shouldn’t have to be the case of who shouts loudest gets the funding,” Social Democrats councillor Eamonn Horgan said.

“This work needs to be done urgently,” added Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Mulcahy. He initially suggested the municipal council write to the OPW seeking an update.

Municipal district officer Susan Hegarty said she had been in touch with representatives from the county council engineers’ department and they would draft a letter to the OPW requesting action “as a matter of urgency” and a specific timeline for the works to be started and completed.

“What more do we have to do? There are homes being flooded and will continue to be because of global warming,” Ms Linehan-Foley said.

She then suggested the only way to get the project reactivated was to get Mr Moran down to the town to see the situation on the ground for himself and to explain why the promised project had not proceeded.

She won unanimous cross-party support for this.

“Flooding issues are rampant across East Cork, and some areas have been forgotten. Hopefully he will be open to the request,” Fine Gael councillor Rory Cocking said.