An engineering consultancy in Ireland has been appointed to carry out a major study in the South Western River Basin District (RBD) catchment.

Mott McDonald Ireland will identify and examine in detail the causes of flooding throughout the catchment - which includes Counties Cork, Kerry and a portion of Counties Waterford, Tipperary and Limerick - and produce an integrated plan of specific measures in a comprehensive way.

Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State and Department of the Public Expenditure and Reform, said: "The study will examine all options to reduce flood risk, including both structural and non-structural measures and will also consider related environmental issues. Structural measures that will be considered may involve the construction of flood defences or increasing conveyance capacity where appropriate, while the range of non-structural options that will be explored will include measures such as the introduction of flood warning systems. There will be full consultation with individuals and organisations that have an interest, ranging from property owners, recreational users, the farming community and environmental stakeholders."The commissioning of Mott MacDonald Ireland is the fifth such commission awarded this year to carry out catchment studies under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.

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The Minister concluded: "I would urge all interested parties to contribute to the consultation process in order to ensure that the plan of measures that the study will produce will best represent their view of how flooding in the region should be addressed into the future."

(CD)