The statements by Office of Public Works officials and their consultants that are quoted by the Deputy, which make no reference to a by-pass channel, are not contradictory. The works in question involve excavating a stretch of channel at the new Dry Bridge structure in order to facilitate the draining of the flood plain upstream of that location into the River Suir when an extreme event occurs in Clonmel. This floodplain, which is dry in normal circumstances, is fed by various natural flowpaths when the Suir is in flood. One of these flowpaths was referred to in the documentation for the flood relief scheme that was put on public display by the technical term a 'spillway'. The works will improve the efficiency of this existing flowpath or spillway.