Building work on flood defences to protect part of suburban Dublin from the sea could be delayed by up to eight years if protests continue, Dublin City Council has warned.

The council has had planning permission from An Bord Pleanála to build flood defences at Clontarf since 2008 but it has now stalled.

The cost of the project, including the construction of a new watermain is estimated at €9.8 million, which would be jointly funded by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Department of Environment. A contractor has been appointed and is ready to start work, however, the council now says it has been warned by the OPW that funding may be withdrawn if the project is not confirmed by the end of this year.

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The delay follows wrangles over the height following objections from residents and business people in Clontarf who said the defences, which would run along a 3km stretch of the promenade, would ruin the local amenity and the views of Dublin Bay.

Now, reductions in height which would see the grass covered mound vary in height from a minimum of .45m to 2.17m along the bay.

The Irish Times has reported that in the previously approved scheme the minimum height was .85m while the maximum was 2.75m - but residents and businesses said the reductions were inadequate and that they would continue to fight against the project.

(BMcC)