merrion street

Mr. Kevin “Boxer” Moran, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Flood Relief, is pleased to announce receipt of notification that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Paschal Donohoe T.D., has formally confirmed the River Fealge (Clonakilty) Flood Relief Scheme.
Welcoming the announcement Minister Moran said, "I recently visited a number of areas in Cork, including Clonakilty, where I met with Minister of State Jim Daly, local TDs, councillors and the community, to see at first hand as Minister for Flood Relief, the effects of flooding on these areas. Flooding has a devastating impact and can be long-lasting for communities and Clonakilty is no exception, having suffered serious flooding in the past. I am delighted that this Confirmation will, after the required public notice period, now enable my Office to progress this major scheme of works on the River Fealge. The Scheme, when completed, will afford protection to 150 residential and 146 non-residential properties from the 1 in 100-year flood event”.
Minister Donohoe stated, “I am delighted to be in a position to confirm the River Fealge (Clonakilty) Flood Relief Scheme, which is part of the Government’s €430 million Capital Investment Plan for Flood mitigation initiatives to protect threatened localities from river and coastal flood risk”.
Minister Moran went on to say, “As recent events in Donegal show, flooding has a catastrophic effect on communities. It is important to emphasise that this Scheme, when commenced, is building on the record number of flood relief schemes that are currently underway in addition to the OPW’s ongoing funding support to local authorities for undertaking localised flooding projects. The existing and planned expenditure on flood relief measures represents an unprecedented level of investment by the Government to protect individuals, families, communities and businesses throughout the country against the most serious risk and impact of flooding”.
The details of the confirmation order are available on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/river-fealge-clonakilty-flood-relief-scheme/


Notes to Editors:
The Scheme is confirmed under the Arterial Drainage Acts and in accordance with the provisions of the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2012. The Regulations provide that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform shall consider the environmental impact statement submitted as part of a proposed drainage or flood risk management scheme and determine whether that environmental impact statement adequately identifies, describes and assesses the direct and indirect effects of the proposed scheme.
The town of Clonakilty, Co Cork, lies on the River Fealge. Clonakilty has a long record of flooding from storm surges, heavy rainfall and extreme river flows over the past 60 years. In June 2012, extreme rainfall and river flows inundated the centre of Clonakilty causing significant damage to properties and businesses.
The proposed Clonakilty Flood Relief Scheme has evolved through an initial screening process of a range of potential measures typically considered for flood alleviation schemes, the development of potential options and finally the development of a preferred scheme design.
The Scheme comprises fluvial storage upstream of the town and tidal defences. The main elements of the Scheme can be summarised as the construction of a storage area with embankment, construction of new tidal defence walls, construction of earthen tidal flood embankments, works to bridges, raising of roads and the construction of surface storm water pumping stations.
A statutory eight-week period of public notice of the confirmation decision must be observed. The proposed works will be carried out by a contractor procured by the OPW.