'Boxer' announces additional flood relief funding supports
An increase in Flood Risk and Coastal Change Management funding supports available to local authorities under the OPW Minor Works Scheme has been announced by local Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran.
The Minister, who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works, was in Athlone to confirm the funding increase which will allow local authorities to carry out localised flood relief and coastal erosion protection works.
“I am delighted to announce that the upper financial threshold for each approved project under the Scheme will be increased significantly from €750,000 to €2 million. This will allow for an increase in the scale of works projects encompassed by the Scheme, which includes nature based solutions.
"I am also making funding of €3 million available under the Scheme for approved projects to remove river conveyance blockages. This is for where blockages at river crossings, bridges or culverts are causing increased river flood risks to properties and proposed works are compatible with environmental policies and planning requirements," the Minister of State said.
The Minister of State said an increase in funding supports was necessary to allow local authorities address local flood and coastal erosion risks.
“Everyone will, no doubt, recall the serious flooding and coastal erosion experienced following the many storms in recent times. I have seen the effects of this on communities first hand and I am aware of the range of issues facing local authorities to reduce local flood risk and coastal erosion risk both before and after such events," Minister Moran said.
The Minister of State said that since the Scheme was introduced over €69 million in funding has been approved for local authorities in respect of over 900 projects to protect an estimated 7,900 homes from flooding and coastal erosion.
“The success of this Scheme reflects the very valuable work being carried out by the local authorities in helping to address localised flooding and coastal erosion problems throughout the country and therefore, I am pleased to approve these additional supports for this important work," Minister Moran concluded.