OPW Minister: lives will be put at risk and communities will flood unless flood prone areas are protected
Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan is meeting people in the city and county today whose homes and businesses have been damaged by flooding.
The OPW Minister has previously criticised the planning process for holding up schemes such as the €20 million flood defence plan for Blackpool.
The plan has faced a number of objections including from the Save Our Bride Otters group who have raised over €16,000 to fund a judicial review of the decision to grant planning for the scheme.
Speaking to RedFM News, Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan outlines his concerns:
"Lives are going to be put at risk, and I have no difficulty in seeing that. And that is a shocking thing to say and it is a shocking reality. We are playing a very dangerous game where we know floodwaters are rising. We are not reacting in the way in which we need to react. If we continue to try and deliver the infrastructure that's needed for instance in this city- to protect the city in a manner in which we're expected to deliver it- this city will continue to flood. There is no doubt about it and this city will continue to be at risk and that risk is going to continue to rise."
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