Minister of State at the Office of Public Works (OPW), Sean Canney, also called on communities, businesses and environmental groups to engage in the consultation process.
He said: "The draft Plans are based on Units of Management (hydrometric areas) and have proposed measures at both community level (Areas for Further Assessment) and catchment-wide level.
"Work on mitigating flood risk continues while the CFRAM Programme is being finalised. The Government is providing €430 million for flood risk management measures as part of its overall Capital Investment Plan 2016 – 2021. This substantial increase of over 59% in the level of capital investment provided in the last 5 year programme [2012 – 2016], will allow the OPW to implement flood relief schemes from its current capital programme which are already at an advanced stage of readiness. Already this year the Claregalway Scheme has been commenced, with contractors also on site on schemes in Bandon and Skibbereen. I was in Limerick on Wednesday for the contract signing for the €2.8m scheme in Foynes, Co. Limerick. Before the end of the year, works are expected to commence on projects at Northlands, Co Meath and on the Dunkellin River in County Galway. In 2017, the first phase of works on the largest flood relief scheme ever to be undertaken in the State are expected to commence in Cork City, along with schemes in Blackpool and Clonakilty in County Cork, Templemore, Co Tipperary and Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
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"The Capital Investment Plan will also allow the OPW to continue the design and planning work for flood relief schemes in the pipeline such as for Arklow, Co Wicklow, Raphoe, Co Donegal, the King’s Island phase of the Limerick scheme, the River Poddle, Dublin and Crossmolina, Co Mayo. Work on the development and progression of a scheme for Athlone by Westmeath County Council is also now underway. The estimated future cost of the current programme is in the region of €350 million. In addition, and importantly, the enhanced investment programme will enable the OPW, in collaboration with the relevant Local Authorities, to begin the process of preparation and planning for the structural works and schemes that are expected to be recommended under the CFRAM Plans."
(CD)
