Monday, March 29, 2010

Funding For Flood Relief Works In Clare


Almost half a million euro has been granted to Clare County Council to undertake flood defence works throughout the County.

Clare T.D. and Minister for Defence Tony Killeen says he has received confirmation from the Office of Public Works that four separate projects have been granted combined funding of 462,000 euro.

The projects include the installation of an overflow flood culvert at the Gort Road Industrial Park in Ennis (300,000 euro), flood mitigation works at Ranaghan on the Corofin to Tubber road ( 90,000 euro), a culvert upgrade in Clonbony (36,000) and flood mitigation works in Ruan (90,000).

Minister Killeen has welcomed the funding allocations which he said would greatly reduce the risk of flooding in the areas concerned.

He continued: “I have received confirmation from Minister of State Dr. Martin Mansergh, TD, Office of Public Works, that significant flood relief works will take place at Ruan, Ennis and Clonbony, near Miltown Malbay. This is the first phase of funding to be announced by the Minister of State in 2010. The works that are scheduled to take place will significantly reduce the risk of flooding to properties and land in the areas concerned”.

“Climate change is likely to produce higher rainfall in winter, and therefore to increase the risk of flooding along rivers. This increased frequency of intense rainfall events is likely to increase the numbers of floods, as we saw in County Clare late last year, and higher rainfall over winter will also mean increases in the extent of flooding from rising groundwater. The commencement of flood mitigation and flood culvert upgrade works, therefore, takes on added significance”, commented Minister Killeen.