Flood plain mistakes mean expensive lessons have been learnt

NEW housing minister Simon Coveney accepts mistakes were made in the recent past over building on flood plains. Expensive lessons have been learnt, as many people who built and bought houses in such areas would agree.

The Cork politician seems to be embracing his new portfolio with gusto and certainly has a mammoth task to deal with all the challenges the current housing crisis presents.

Some people living along the Shannon are still suffering from the effects of last winter’s flooding and, if ocean levels continue to rise, areas in large urban centres such as Cork, Waterford and Dublin could be in serious trouble.