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Some areas of Ireland worst affected by the floods last November are still waiting for work to commence of flood defences.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) revealed that contractors had yet to be hired to start working on projects in Clare, Tipperary and Cork even though funding had been approved. Other schemes are still only at the planning stage in Carlow, Meath, Kildare and Waterford.

The disclosure came on the back of a damning report that criticised the governments handling of the flooding and freezing temperatures that hit the country during November, December and January.

The report stated that there was a lack of leadership and appropriate structures in place to deal with a major national crisis, calling the system ‘complex and confusing'. There were serious concerns regarding the national emergency plan, known as the Framework for Emergency Management, which set out how the catastrophe should have been handled.

The report said, "A fundamental concern is that it is complex and confusing to those unfamiliar with it. While it has many merits, the fact that it cannot provide a clear, unambiguous and consistent answer to the question of ‘who us in charge?' in an emergency situation is most unsatisfactory."

Record amounts of rain fell in October and November 2009, which resulted in extensive flooding across many parts of Ireland, effecting land, businesses and homes, meaning hundreds of people had to be evacuated.

The following month saw the coldest winter since 1963, causing travel chaos, damage to roads, properties and water pipes being left burst.

Insurance claims for damage to property have amounted to nearly €550 million, with damage to roads estimated at €180 million.

Chairperson of the committee who released the report, Sean Fleming said, "We believe that the extent to which people were affected and impacted could have been lessened with better planning and co-ordination. There seems to be a distinct lack of clarity regarding who is ultimately in charge."

The report highlighted that the number of groups responsible for waterways in the country was ‘breathtaking' and there was an urgent need for communication between these bodies to be greatly improved.