Minister For Employment and Small Business Pat Breen said he is satisfied that progress is now being made on the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme as the project has gone to tender.
“It is my understanding that the tender documents will be going out to contractors for pricing on Monday (yesterday). The tender period will be eight weeks, and pending no further complications, work is to commence on the ground in July,” said Minister Breen.
“This third phase of the Ennis Flood Relief Scheme had been delayed due to technical difficulties, but I am pleased that the project is finally moving on,” added Minister Breen.
“I understand the frustration of residence effected by flooding in this area of Ennis as they await the project to begin, a frustration that must be multiplied in recent days during the inclement weather, and I sincerely hope this is the beginning of the end of flooding issues for these people.
“I have been working closely with the OPW, Minister Sean Canney and Clare County Council on this issue for some time and am assured that an end is now in sight,” said the Clare minister of state.
The OPW has already allocated €4.71 million in funding to the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme.
Works proposed under the scheme include a flood overflow culvert from St. Flannan’s Stream to the Clare Abbey flood plain, a flood overflow culvert from Ballybeg Stream to the Clare Abbey flood plain, and the upgrade of the existing flood defence embankment between the Quin Road and the Clarecastle tidal barrage, including rehabilitation and construction of sluices.
The Ennis South Scheme is being progressed by Clare County Council with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW). Day to day management of the project is the responsibility of the local authority.
Significant investment has been made in flood defence improvements throughout the town.
Flood Relief works have been carried out from Bank Place to Doora Bridge, Watery Road/Elm Park and the Fior Uisce Estate following serious flooding in 2009. Over €18 million has been invested in the upper and lower schemes.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.