merrion street

Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) today announced detail of a programme of major capital works for 2012.

Speaking this afternoon, the Minister said, "I very much welcome the allocation by the Government of €45 millionper annum for flood risk management and mitigation in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Medium Term Exchequer Framework for the period 2012-2016. The total allocation of €225 million for capital flood relief measures over the 5-year period of the framework is greater than the total spent on such measures in the past 10 years. This allocation is additional to the related current expenditure provision for maintenance by the OPW of completed arterial drainage schemes and collection of flood flow data, for which €17m has been provided in 2012."

"At a time when difficult decisions have to be made in order to adhere to the current severe financial constraints, this very substantial allocation underlines the Government's recognition of the serious personal and economic impact of flooding and the importance it attaches to addressing the problem,"

The Minister concluded, "My Office will continue to operate in 2012 the Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Erosion Works scheme under which local authorities can apply for funding for small scale measures to address localised flooding and erosion problems in their areas.

List of Schemes for 2012

Completion of current phases of major flood relief schemes at

Clonmel,

Mallow

River Tolka

River Dodder

Mornington

Johnstown

Commence construction of the remaining phases of schemes at

Fermoy

Ennis

Tullamore

Templemore.

Funding will also be provided by the OPW for schemes being undertaken by the relevant local authorities at

Bray

Carlow (Phase 2)

Waterford (Phase 2)

River Wad (Dublin)

During 2012 the OPW will progress the planning and design of schemes at

Enniscorthy,

Arklow

Bandon

Skibbereen

Ballymakeera

Raphoe

Crossmolina

Rivers Dunkellin and Clare

River Dodder (Phase 3)

Lower Lee

South Campshires (Dublin)

the Minister said.