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Chief executive Lucey denies Council was slow with flooding payments

January 28th, 2016 4:55 PM

By Kieran O'Mahony

Tim Lucey.

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Cork County Council chief executive Tim Lucey has strongly refuted claims that Cork County Council was responsible for holding up payments to businesses in Bandon affected by the recent flooding. 

CORK County Council chief executive Tim Lucey has strongly refuted claims that Cork County Council was responsible for holding up payments to businesses in Bandon affected by the recent flooding. 

At a meeting of Cork County Council last week, Mr Lucey circulated a 24-page summary report by the Council outlining their response to the floods last month.

‘It was suggested in some circles that Cork County Council was delaying payments and that is not a fact. All forms were returned within 24 hours and we responded to every form,’ said Mr Lucey.

Mr Lucey also said that he would be seeking clarification from the Irish Red Cross with regards to a letter that was issued by Barry O’Donovan, the organisation’s national secretary, in which it was stated that “some local authorities like Cork County Council” slowed up the process.’

‘Cork County Council was not slow in processing the forms, and I will be seeking clarification and I want to see that letter,’ he said.

Mr Lucey also said that a statement by Cllr Paul Hayes The Southern Star regarding the Council’s delay in processing payments was not a fact. 

In reply, Cllr Paul Hayes said he was only referring to a letter he had received from Barry O’Donovan of the Red Cross.

The summary report into the flooding response outlined that the preliminary costings for a roads assessment and restoration programme are estimated at up to €20m, with a programme having already commenced throughout the county. 

The report also showed that 329 calls were made to the Fire Service between December 29th and January 4th, with 169 of these been attended and 133 of the calls were weather-related. It also showed that 118 staff throughout the Council’s Water Service Division were on duty during this period.

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