Cork flood defences could cost €100m

BUILDING SUFFICIENT defences to reduce the risk of tidal and river floods in Cork could cost in excess of €100 million, a study…

BUILDING SUFFICIENT defences to reduce the risk of tidal and river floods in Cork could cost in excess of €100 million, a study on flooding in the region published yesterday has concluded.

The river Lee catchment flood risk assessment and management study proposes the ESB would use its dams at Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid in Cork to control the flow of the Lee to reduce the risk of flooding in the city.

The study says the situation for Cork city is “complicated”. It is subject to the outcome of revisiting and further developing the operation regulations of the Carrigadrohid and Inniscarra dams with enhanced emphasis on their potential for proactive flood-risk management.

The study concludes that if revised operating procedures for operating the reservoir levels cannot alone guarantee robust management of fluvial flood risk downstream, then there will be a need to proceed to a more detailed stage of study for a combined fluvial and tidal flood alleviation scheme.

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This course of action is estimated to cost in excess of €100 million for complete defences and may be “prohibitive”, the report suggests.

Minister of State at the Office of Public Works Dr Martin Mansergh launched the draft plan yesterday at Cork City Hall.

Dr Mansergh said the flooding experienced in Cork last November was of an “unprecedented” and “extreme” scale. He insisted that flood defence funds would be made available to the best of the Government’s ability.

“There is increased money available for flood defence and protection but obviously what is going to be needed is not going to be determined fully until all the flood catchment area studies are completed by 2015. All I can say is that this Government is committed to spending increased resources on flood protection defences.

“For example its spending in 2008 was €23 million, in 2009 it was €38 million and after recent flooding events in November it is going to be €50 million this year.”

This flood-risk management plan for the Lee catchment was substantially produced before the flooding of November 2009 and is the primary pilot project for the national flood risk assessment and studies programme. The first phase of the Cork plan is due to be implemented by 2015, while minor relief works will be carried out before the end of this year.

Dr Mansergh said the study was the product of three years of intensive work that had identified the areas prone to flooding. It assessed a wide range of measures that could be used to protect people, property and infrastructure against the effects of flooding.

Dr Mansergh added that while the plan set out solutions for the more significant flood problems, he fully recognised that there were many local problems that could not be addressed within this plan.

“Last summer, I announced the minor scheme programme under which the OPW will provide funding to local authorities to address these local problems, where there are viable and cost-effective solutions. Despite budgetary constraints, I am able to continue this programme into 2010, and OPW have recently written to all local authorities to invite them to submit applications under this scheme.”