Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend the emergency services, the fire services and Cork County Council, which were out since 5 a.m. on Tuesday trying to battle back the north Atlantic, an impossible task without a flood defence. I am assured some of the measures they took prevented further damage, but we have to acknowledge their incredible efforts. It is now expected that every time there is a southerly wind and a high tide, Bantry will be flooded. On this occasion, in the region of 23 premises, properties and businesses were impacted by this flood, and for some it was the fourth occasion within a period of about 16 months that they have experienced flooding. That makes Bantry the most frequently flooded town in Ireland right now, and it is not good enough. We need to help them.

I understand why the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donovan, cannot make it to this debate. He and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform visited Bantry on a couple of occasions in August 2020. After that, there was the announcement of the €6.7 million flood relief scheme for Bantry. We were told the tender process for that scheme would start, which it did, but in September of this year, I was told the preferred design team would be appointed within a couple of weeks. It is now December and still a formal design team has not been appointed.

A number of weeks ago, Cork County Council recommended the appointment of a preferred design team and I want to know why that preferred design team still has not been appointed. We need to expedite this scheme and streamline the process. A public consultation period has to happen, as does the design, and we are no further towards that. Skibbereen, Bandon and Clonakilty can all sleep safely knowing their towns are protected; Bantry deserves the same protection.

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