Fianna Fáil Town Councillor for Bandon, Gillian Coughlan, has called on the Government to reassure the people of Bandon that the funding promises they made in 2011 and 2012 will be kept.

Cork County Council officials revealed to Town Councillors this week that the Bandon scheme, which was aborted early in 2013, will now have to win funding from a central budget, under the auspices of Irish Water.

In the aftermath of the original contract termination, Councillor Coughlan had called on Cork County Council to expedite the re-drafting of tender documents in order to avoid such an outcome. The scheme would upgrade the town's antiquated drains and importantly, separate storm from foul water.

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Councillor Coughlan commented: "The residents and business people of Bandon are now left in limbo. The funding which had been promised now has to be secured again. People cannot insure themselves and their businesses against the threat of flood damage following the major flood disaster of 2009.

"As we face into yet another winter, the worry of flood damage is playing on the minds of the people of Bandon. This worry will only be eased once the Bandon Main Drainage and the Bandon Flood Relief Scheme are in place.

"I am calling on the Government to honour their commitments to Bandon and to issue a statement that Bandon will be prioritised when funding is allocated by Irish Water and that the Scheme will be carried out as soon as possible."

(CD/JP)