Simon Harris, Fine Gael TD for Wicklow and Minister for the Office of Public Works (OPW), has announced details of a €430 million 6 year program of capital investment on flood defense measures as part of the Governments overall Capital Investment Plan 2016–2021.
This program will build on the very significant investment that has already been undertaken in flood relief works throughout the country over the last 20 years with over €410m invested in that period in flood risk management measures to provide protection to homes and businesses in major urban areas such as Dublin, Kilkenny, Fermoy, Mallow and Clonmel together with investment in many minor works projects to address more localized flooding problems.
The further substantial investment will allow this significant work program to continue to address the most urgent flood risk problems facing the country.
This plan will identify a prioritized set of measures, both structural and non structural, to address the flood risk in each area.
The €430 million investment program represents a substantial increase of over 59% in the level of capital investment provided in the last 5 year program (2012–2016) and will allow the OPW to implement flood relief schemes which are already at an advanced stage of readiness such as for Skibbereen, Claregalway, Bandon and Templemore.
It will also allow the OPW to continue the design and planning work for flood relief schemes in the pipeline such as for Cork city, Enniscorthy, Arklow, Clonakilty and Crossmolina.