Significant flooding has had a major and devastating impact on businesses in the Cork Region, most recently since 2009 and is a top priority for Cork Chamber. Since then, Cork Chamber has consistently communicated to key decision makers the criticality of implementing an appropriate flood defence scheme and has been working on behalf of the business community to achieve this. We have continuously engaged with public representatives at Ministerial, Oireachtas and Council level as well as OPW Officials to advance this issue. Currently, Cork Chamber is reviewing a number of aspects of the OPW’s proposed flood defence scheme relating in particular to the extensive works required to the river quays and also analysing how the flood protection measures can be implemented while protecting the city’s important river amenity. 

In light of this, Cork Chamber has participated in a site visit with other key stakeholders including representatives from the City Council, CBA and the City Centre Forum to Waterford, Fermoy and Clonmel to examine recent flood defence options to help inform the decision on the type of flood defences that will be suitable and aesthetically pleasing for Cork.