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Brian Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works was in Cork today to sign the contract for Phase II of the Fermoy Flood Relief Scheme and to switch on the new exterior lighting at Charles Fort in Kinsale.

Speaking at the contract signing in Fermoy Town Hall, Minister Hayes said: "I am very pleased to be here in Fermoy today. OPW has been in partnership with Fermoy Town Council and Cork County Council since 2001 and this scheme could not have been developed without that partnership being in place. Fermoy has been hit in the past by major flood events in 2004, 2002,1998, 1988 (3 times), 1986 and 1980. This contract we are signing today, with Lagan Construction, is the second phase of the overall flood relief scheme for Fermoy, the southern scheme. The first phase commenced on the northern side of the River in September 2009 and is now complete bar some minor snagging. Approximately 265 properties, of which 108 are residential, will be given the standard 100 year protection when this final phase is complete in early 2014."

The Minister continued: "The first phase included large elements of demountable defences which are erected upon a warning from the Flood Forecasting System developed by OPW and run by Cork County Council in Mallow. Since the completion of the scheme the demountable system has been called into action on a number of occasions. The scheme about to commence includes new walls with stone cladding, earthen embankments, demountable defences and pump installations with ancillary services. The Government and the Office of Public works made a commitment to Fermoy and I am glad to be here today to follow through on that commitment and to sign this contract. In a time when cuts are having to be made in many areas, the OPW has increased its capital allocation for flood relief schemes and flood risk management projects around the country, a clear demonstration of the priority that this Government places on this critical area of our national infrastructure."After the Fermoy contract signing the Minister travelled on to Kinsale where he switched on new exterior lighting at Charles Fort, one of the country’s most important national monuments. Speaking at this ceremony Minister Hayes said: "The illumination of Charles Fort represents a significant milestone in the ongoing conservation of the Fort. The Office of Public Works is committed to maintaining and enhancing its relationship with the town of Kinsale. Charles Fort is today Kinsale's premier tourist attraction with visitor numbers in the region of 70,000 annually. This lighting project was started on the 28th November last year and completed on the 15th of February. This project took considerable planning, and involved detailed discussions with the Department of the Environment, archaeologists and wildlife experts. One of the 6 sides of the fort is now illuminated under this phase of the works and most of this wall can be seen from Kinsale. Charles Fort in its construction and scale is an amazing feat of architecture and engineering. The subtle floodlighting scheme now highlights its historical and significant connection with the town of Kinsale. The Office of Public Works is committed to building and strengthening its cultural heritage relationship with the town and people of Kinsale. Together the relationship between tourism and the environment must be managed so that it is sustainable in the long term. Access, inclusion and education are critical to the success of this partnership."