Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme - Animation

This is an information video showing the flood relief scheme proposed for Cork City.

The Scheme represents the largest State investment in flood defence ever undertaken in the county. It is an important element of the Government's Project Ireland 2040 Strategy.

After centuries of devastation and damage to households and businesses, the acknowledged need for action has been matched by State funding and interagency co-operation involving the Office of Public Works (OPW), both Cork local authorities and the ESB.

The Scheme is the result of over thirteen years of careful consideration and study of the Lee Catchment and the nature of flooding affecting Cork. Benchmarked against best international practice, the Scheme's multifaceted approach takes account of the complexity of flooding in Cork which is both tidal and fluvial (river). In addition to the distress and damage caused to residents and business owners, it is worth remembering that flooding in 2009 and 2014 resulted in a reported EUR 140 million of damage in Cork.

The Scheme's key elements include a state of the art flood forecasting system which together with revised operating procedures to regulate Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid dams, significantly reduce the peak flow of water reaching the city at times of flood. It involves the creation of washlands to the west of the city, an enhanced early flood warning system, diversion of waters from the south channel into the north channel and low-level quay side defences.

The video and the various images that have been published puts paid to the ideas that the scheme would mean the destruction of heritage, the concealment of the river from view and the curtailment of the use of the river - none of which are true.