Disappointment at wait for progress on flood assessment scheme

Some movement has been seen in relation to the Rathcormac Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) scheme as meetings on the issue were held recently.

Recently, The Office of Public Works (OPW) invited local authorities’ director of services to a regional meeting in Cork City Hall. The County Engineer of Cork County Council attended, in which the mechanisms to roll out Tranche 2 schemes, which includes Rathcormac, were discussed.

At the Northern Divisional Committee meeting on Monday, councillors expressed dissatisfaction with the wait to see works carried out locally.

Cllr William O’Leary stated that there has been ‘little or no progress’ on the issue in the past few years.

“We’re coming into four years since this council convened in 2019 and we just haven’t really seen an update on it.

Outlining that it has now been seven or eight years since public consultation on CFRAMs took place in Rathcormac, Cllr O’Leary queried as to whether any timeline has been given yet.

According to Cllr Frank O’Flynn, the issue of flood risks is now holding up housing development in the area and also queried as to when the scheme will begin and whether funding is in place for it.

Cllr Kay Dawson also expressed disappointment with the wait for Phase 2 of CFRAMs to take place and for works to be carried out in Rathcormac.

“I know it’s outside our control, but we have to keep pushing and keeping the pressure on that’s needed there,” Cllr Dawson said.

‘CLARITY’ NEEDED

County Engineer Kevin Morey outlined that a meeting had taken place between local authorities in the southern half of the country and the OPW, in preparation for Tranche 2.

“I understand that this is something that will be challenging to put out and get delivered in a timely fashion, so we will play our part in providing support from our own team to OPW and working with other local authorities,” Mr Morey said.

“I don’t have further clarity in terms of dates, but I would take some encouragement in that there is active discussion as to how the programme can effectively be delivered and that hopefully would lead to some form of clarity as to timelines on it”.