Fianna Fáil TD for Louth Erin McGreehan has welcomed the announcement of €50,000 in funding for Louth County Council to carry out minor flood mitigation works and studies aimed at tackling localised flooding and coastal protection issues across the county.
The funding forms part of a wider national allocation of €3 million announced to support local authorities in removing river conveyance blockages and expanding the scope of the Office of Public Works Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
The scheme provides funding for smaller scale flood mitigation projects and studies designed to address local flooding and coastal erosion challenges within local authority areas.
Welcoming the announcement, Deputy McGreehan said:
“This funding will support the essential work being undertaken by local authorities to address localised flooding and coastal erosion problems across our communities.
“This allocation comes in addition to funding already committed to councils for interim coastal flood defences. It is another important measure that will help reduce the risk of flooding ahead of the winter months.
“We need to make preparations now before weather conditions inevitably deteriorate later in the year.
“I will continue engaging with the Council and the Department in the months ahead to ensure these works are carried out promptly and that communities are protected before we face another severe storm event such as Storm Chandra.”
Since the introduction of the scheme in 2009, approximately €70 million has been approved for 930 local authority led projects delivering flood mitigation and coastal protection measures for around 8,000 properties nationwide.
Revised criteria for the Minor Works Scheme have also been announced, significantly expanding the scope of the programme available to local authorities.
The changes include an increase in the upper funding threshold for projects from €750,000 to €2 million, along with an increase in the OPW contribution rate from 90 per cent to 95 per cent for approved funding above €300,000.
