Tidal barriers 'not needed' in Cork city until year 2100

A tidal barrier to protect Cork city from flooding will not be needed until the next century, according to Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, despite concerns raised by local businesses.

Mr Moran said that while an updated study of the barrier option is at “an advanced stage”, considering the worst in terms of rising sea levels, the earliest that such infrastructure would be “necessary or viable” is some time after the year 2100.

He additionally revealed that no funding has been sought or provided for the project, with only quayside defence measures recognised as viable at this time.

Speaking to The Echo, director and owner of Diana O’Mahony Jewellers on Winthrop St – a premises which has fallen victim to flooding – Shane Kennedy said the government should begin planning now. "The longer you delay it, the more expensive it's going to get," he said. “Considering how fast the climate is changing, I would prefer a flood barrier be put in place before we actually need it," said Mr Kennedy.

“There is no point in waiting for the city to be devastated by a massive flood before thinking about implementing a barrier."

Mr Moran’s comments came in response to a parliamentary question raised by Sinn Féin Cork North Central TD Thomas Gould, who said “a lot more needs to be done to protect Cork”.

“A flood barrier would be a massive piece of infrastructure, which could take decades to deliver, so what we don’t want happening is needing it and not having it,” said Mr Gould.

“With the escalation in global warming, and if sea levels continue to rise, is this not something we should be planning for now?”

Mr Moran said the €200m Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme (LLFRS) is the “only viable solution to Cork’s flooding problem”, which covers a 16km distance from the Inniscarra hydroelectric plant to the Port of Cork.

Works as part of this project commenced in 2024, and are expected to be completed in 2027.

Owner and director of Badger & Dodo café on the South Mall — also previously impacted by flooding — Brock Lewin said: “It is what it is. Sometimes you have to look after yourself instead of depending on the State for intervention.”

“It’s just part and parcel of the way the city was built, everyone knows that Cork floods,” said Mr Lewin.

“I don’t see the point in taking massive efforts to put in flood barriers that might even be useless in 50 years to come.”