FERMOY BUSINESSES AWAIT INVESTIGATIONS INTO PUMP FAILURE

Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Mr Patrick O’Donovan TD, met this week with senior engineers and management of Cork County Council to discuss progress on flood relief works in the county.

During a visit in August 2020, the Minister saw first-hand the damage caused by flooding to West Cork towns. At this week’s meeting the Minister was updated on progress by Cork County Council Chief Executive Tim Lucey, County Engineer Kevin Morey, and the managers for the county’s three divisions.

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister said he is satisfied that Cork County Council are ‘fully committed’ to addressing the flood risk in the affected areas.

The Minister also visited Fermoy to view the flood relief scheme currently in operation and received an update on the recent pump failure that led to three properties experiencing flooding.

Commenting, the Minister explained: “The Fermoy scheme has been in operation for the past 10 years and has been fully successful during 2015 and other flood events, as well as providing very significant levels of protection during the Orange Warning rainfall event in late February. It has been calculated that this event would have caused flood damage to some 80 properties were this scheme not in place.

“It is unfortunate, however, that due to an apparent malfunction of one specific element of the infrastructure on this occasion, which is currently being investigated, three properties were affected. What we need to ensure is that appropriate measures are taken to ensure such an event cannot happen during future flood events, and I have received such assurances from Cork County Council pending a review of the incident.”

Queries were put to Cork County Council by in relation to progress on the investigation into the pump failure which occurred on February 24, leading to the flooding of properties in Brian Boru Square.

A spokesperson for Cork County Council said: “A report is currently being prepared into the causes of the pump failure in Fermoy, Cork County Council is not in a position to provide any further comment at this time.”

TheAvondhu ‘EVERYTHING COULD HAVE TO BE RIPPED UP’

Local businesses affected by the pump failure in Fermoy are now in a period of ‘drying out’ and are yet to see the extent of the damage caused by the flood.

Following the flooding, Wimpy in Fermoy has now reopened their takeaway service to the public. However, the full extent of the damage is yet to be seen, especially when it comes to wooden furniture and fixtures affected by floodwaters.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen.

The counter is already starting to swell and our tables are all timber. In six months time, everything could have to be ripped up.

“It was bad enough being closed for nine weeks and now opening only half of the business we used to have. There’s been a lot of damage, especially if we have to re-do the floors, the business could have to close again,” said Romeo Talossi.

According to Mr Talossi, the flooring, seating, cooking area, kitchen and window frames are among parts of the business significantly affected by the recent flood.