Fear of flooding may soon be a thing of the past for the people of Clonakilty following confirmation that tenders are being sought for a major flood relief scheme for the town.
FEAR of flooding may soon be a thing of the past for the people of Clonakilty following confirmation that tenders are being sought for a major flood relief scheme for the town.
Fine Gael TD, Jim Daly, welcomed the government’s announcement saying: ‘confirmation of this project for my hometown is really wonderful news.’
Following a public exhibition in late 2014 and early 2015, plans for the Clonakilty scheme have progressed to the tender stage – all of which brings the people of Clonakilty one step closer to being protected from the type of devastating flooding that has affected the town in the past. As well as going to tender, the proposed flood relief scheme has also been submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe for formal Confirmation under the Arterial Drainage Acts.
Deputy Daly welcomed the fact that the Skibbereen and Bandon flood relief projects have already started and that work is expected to start in Clonakilty in 2017.
He said: ‘The people of West Cork have waited more than 50 years for these works – works which were not prioritised by previous administrations through times when cash was aplenty.’
The works will be carried out under the Government’s Capital Investment Plan 2016–2021, which includes an overall budget of €430 million for flood risk management.
Twelve major flood relief schemes have already started, but a further six major projects – including Clonakilty – are expected to commence construction in 2017. There are also 17 more at the design development and planning stage.