Flood protection schemes in West Cork could hang in the balance because of OPW budget cuts to finance the National Children’s Science Centre.
At last week’s Dáil Public Accounts Committee, OPW chairman John Conlon confessed the agency had no dedicated funds for the Dublin educational project, now said to cost more than €300m.
‘I will have to consider reducing expenditure on things like flood schemes, which is something I would find almost impossible – particularly given the climate obligations we have and the climate change and even what is happening in recent weeks,’ Mr Conlon told TDs.
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He added that fast-tracking the science centre might demand a 20 to 30% cut across regional projects.
This could potentially have a knock-on effect on the delivery of West Cork’s flood defence schemes.
Locally there are fears that the proposed cuts could delay or even stall vital flood defences to guard homes and businesses in hard-hit places like Bantry.
Cllr Finbarr Harrington said: ‘My opinion on this is the same as anybody else’s: Bantry needs that flood defence and it needs it really urgently.
‘We cannot afford any more delays. I don’t agree with robbing Peter to pay Paul to pay for a project. They will just need to find the money somewhere else. Residents and business owners are anxious and need the flood defence scheme, especially in a month like this with all the rain. We need to keep this at the top of our agenda and get the flood defence system and the culvert works in Bantry done as soon as possible.’
The Public Accounts Committee also heard that no government department had stepped up to sponsor the long-stalled science hub for schoolchildren, despite €5m already spent on planning over two decades.
An arbitrator’s December ruling has increased pressure on the OPW, ordering that the National Children’s Science Centre should go to tender by end of this year and be completed by 2029.
Nationwide, OPW flood schemes proved their worth last winter, sparing over €100m in damages.
A spokesperson said the OPW had no further comment to make, other than what was discussed at the Public Appointment Committee.
