Fine Gael Cork South Central TD Deirdre Clune will this evening (Wednesday) question the Government in the Dáil about its refusal to back vital flood relief works for Cork.

Fianna Fáil indicated this week it will not implement the full flood relief measures as recommended in the Lee Catchment Flood Risk Assessment & Management Study.

Speaking before she questions a Government spokesperson on the Adjournment Debate, Deputy Clune said: ‘Earlier this week the Government sent Minister of State Martin Mansergh to Cork to launch the draft Lee CFRAMS Report and open the process for public consultation’.

While in Cork he cast serious doubts on the possibility of adequate funding being made available to implement the comprehensive flood defences that Cork City needs to avoid a repeat of last November’s flooding.

I will use tonight’s adjournment debate to confirm whether the Government will now provide the funding to build a comprehensive flood defence system for Cork or if it only intends to provide a patchwork of small-scale flood defence schemes to cut costs.

The cost of the damage done last November to homes, businesses and University College Cork far outweighs the cost of a comprehensive flood management plan. The Government now has an opportunity to invest in the future and ensure this will not be repeated.