€100,000 windfall for flood works in North Clare

NEARLY €100,000 has been allocated to flood works in North Clare under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme.
Brian Hayes, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), announced the funding for Clare County Council to carry out flood-relief works at Roughan, Kilnaboy, Corofin.
“These works will include the provision of a new 750mm pipe and an increase to embankments around dwelling houses,” Minister Hayes said.
“The provision of funding for minor flood mitigation works complements a range of other ongoing OPW programmes, including carrying out major flood-relief schemes and flood studies, that are aimed at managing national flood risk in a proactive and comprehensive way into the future,” he added.
Newly elected Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara said the proposed flood-alleviation works at Roughan is one of a number of projects to have been progressed in Clare since the introduction by the OPW of its non-coastal flood relief scheme.
“This funding will enable flood-alleviation works to take place in an area where serious road flooding has occurred in the past. Once completed, the scheme will provide greater protection to property in the area concerned and will help to reduce the risk of flooding on the main Kilnaboy to Kilfenora road,” he said.
“Clare County Council has progressed up to 10 similar projects around the county since the severe flooding of 2009. It is imperative that further funding is given to deal with established flooding black spots at several other locations throughout the county,” Deputy McNamara added.
Minister Hayes concluded that the OPW “has now allocated almost €800,000 to different flood mitigation schemes, both coastal and non-coastal, in County Clare since the scheme was introduced in August 2009. It is important to remember that it is still open to local authorities to submit further applications for funding and all applications that meet the relevant eligibility criteria will be considered having regard to the overall resources available,” the minister said.
Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen pointed out that “a number of homeowners have been particularly hit over the last two winters and a number of minor flooding events have occurred in this area for decades. The provision of this funding is a very welcome boost for the homeowners living in this area of North Clare and it certainty will be a source of great relief to those families,” he concluded.