Funding for coastal protection in Gort, south Galway has been approved by the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Kieran O’Donnell.
He said he had sanctioned Galway County Council’s application for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
Under the scheme, the OPW has approved funding totalling of €26,460 for planned works at Tierneevin and Circular Road, Gort, Co Galway.
This includes installing a new embankment with a waterproof barrier layer and relocating the entryway, along with adding a 20m low-level concrete wall.
Maintenance of the existing open channel and removing silt and vegetation that flows into the Streamstown river is also covered by the funding.
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW in 2009.
Since then, 253 funding applications by Galway County Council have been supported under this scheme.
The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.
The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.
Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance.
Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW relating to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio.
Works that are normally the responsibility of the local authorities will generally not be considered for OPW funding.
