The Office of Public Works (OPW), which has responsibility for flood relief management in Ireland, has teamed up with Engineers Ireland and Loreto Junior School to launch a fun and educational poster designed to explain flood risk and flood solutions to engineers of the future. The poster, aimed at primary school children, is available to download by teachers and designed to be displayed in classrooms around the country to explain to children how flooding happens and what engineers can do to solve the problem. The announcement last week that the OPW will receive almost €1 billion in government investment in flood relief management over the course of the next decade is a reflection of just how important it is to defend people’s homes and businesses. Speaking about the project, chairman of the OPW Maurice Buckley said: “With an engineering background myself I am delighted to launch this poster with Engineers Ireland and Loreto Junior School, who represent the engineers of the future. "The OPW has huge expertise in this area and there are a total of 42 major flood relief projects currently under way at different stages of development. We hope that this poster will encourage young children to see that their problem-solving skills can be used in years to come to deliver major infrastructural solutions that benefit communities.”

Help children understand about flooding

Director general of Engineers Ireland Caroline Spillane, said: “Engineers Ireland is delighted to support the OPW’s schools’ poster initiative about flooding and the role of engineers in solving problems that benefit communities. "The OPW through its flood relief work has been to the fore in flood risk management in Ireland and we congratulate them on this educational initiative. We hope the poster will help children understand more about flooding and about the kinds of work undertaken by engineers to protect infrastructure that is all around us such as houses, farms, our water supply and road network from conditions that cause floods such as sudden and unfavourable weather. “Stimulating curiosity is an essential element in educating young people. We hope the poster will also build awareness about the exciting work of engineers and ignite an interest in pupils to become our future, creative engineers,” she said Download the poster for your school here.