Mixed reaction to €5.8m funding package for East Cork flood relief projects  

Interim measures to protect more than 900 homes and businesses in Midleton from flooding and the progression of the wider Midleton Flood Relief Scheme were unveiled yesterday by the minister of state with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kieran O’Donnell.

A €5.8m funding package has been allocated by the OPW to Cork County Council for the installation of individual property protection measures to 920 homeowners and businesses in Midleton and the wider East Cork area that were impacted by the October 2023 flooding during Storm Babet.

The announcement is part of a suite of flood relief announcements, including progressing the Planning Consent Route for the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme by Cork County Council through An Bord Pleanála, and the funding of staffing resources for the local authority to deliver the measures.

Concerns

While the announcement of the fund has been welcomed locally by many business owners and residents in the town, some concerns about the timeframe in which the works will be delivered have been raised.

Damian O’Brien and his wife Laragh own two businesses in the town, Fox and Co Menswear and Flamingo.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr O’Brien acknowledged the works that have been done to date.

These include the clearing debris in the river, putting in gauges to check river levels, and the removal of collapsed bridges.

However, he said that the individual property protection measures could take months to come to fruition.

Mr O’Brien said the process for the supply and installation of flood protection barriers and gates is currently being advertised on the e-Tender platform. He said if companies are not registered on the e-Tender platform, it could take up to a month.

After that, it could take another month before surveys are completed and reports produced, meaning it may not go to tender until January.

Challenge

“In reality, I wouldn’t see the first flood barrier going in until probably February or March next year. Then the challenge is what do you do in the meantime? We’re heading into winter and we already have two weekends in a row of weather warnings in the area.”

Mark Kennedy of O’Farrells Butchers welcomed the latest development, which he hopes will bring people back into the town, saying that almost one year on, his business is still impacted in terms of sales.

“We have been affected sales-wise because the town is not the same. Since the flooding, the footfall in the town is down. Friday and Saturday are great shopping days, but people don’t have the confidence to come to town when we get this bad weather.”

Locked out 

Vivienne Jeffers, a resident of Gleann Fia housing estate which was devastated during last October’s floods, said: “While any funding is very welcomed for East Cork, it appears that unfortunately Gleann Fia is being locked out of accessing this as it’s for flood gates for doorways, which are not feasible for wooden-framed houses.

“It’s almost a year to the date that I dragged my babies from my front room window through slurry-filled floodwaters and have had to resort to sticking plastic around my home in a last desperate effort to save it.

“I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m absolutely heartbroken after campaigning all this time to protect my community and to be constantly led on with empty promises.”

Local Social Democrats councillor Liam Quaide, who has been campaigning for action on flood relief works for East Cork, said the individual property protection scheme is long overdue and, when implemented, will provide some peace of mind to property and business owners.

“Getting this scheme rolled out quickly and with as little red tape as possible are the priorities now,” he said.

Details of the individual property protection scheme will be available on Cork County Council’s website from next Monday.

Mr O’Donnell pledged that he and his officials will continue to work with Cork County Council in advancing the flood relief projects.