The OPW Minister says inclement weather and covid-19 has delayed the completion of flood defence works in Athlone.
Patrick O'Donovan made the comments in response to Councillor Aengus O'Rourke who raised concern over the speed of the project, which began in 2017.
The Athlone representative fears they will not be complete before refurbishment and drainage works begin in the town.
Minister O'Donovan hopes the vast majority of the defence measures will be constructed by the middle of next year with a further stretch to be worked on close to Golden Island after that.
The Fine Gael representative is in Athlone today to chair an inter-departmental meeting on flood relief schemes along the River Shannon.
He's says 80-85 percent of the work is complete
"If anyone thinks we're in the business of delaying things for the fun of it, they couldn't be further from the truth. People might like to look at the fact that this is the largest body of water in the country and the slowest moving body of water. We've had inclement weather during winters, we've had covid interruptions. It should be reflected on that the OPW stepped into the breach here to make sure the town was protected. Almost 85% of the work is completed".
