Flood defences - Good value at the price

THE recent floods caused immense damage and the prospect of a recurrence is, at the least, disheartening.

That is why we should do all we can to put preventative measures in place. It has been estimated that it would cost over €100 million to build defences that might reduce the risk of floods in Cork city.

At the moment, this may seem unaffordable but the consequences of not putting these defences in place are even more unaffordable. Buildings and businesses will be destroyed in a recurring cycle that will put insurance beyond the reach of many.

Though it may be possible to use the dams on the Lee more effectively, it seems certain that more will be needed and that the majority of the scheme identified by this latest report will have to be implemented.

At €100m plus, it may seem expensive but when you consider that the latest figure for Luas, Dublin’s rail transport system, is just under €3 billion it doesn’t seem a lot to save a city from a recurring nightmare. In reality, anything even near €100m seems good value.