The Government has approved funding for studies of the value of minor flood mitigation works in Galway city, docks and Salthill.
A study for the Co Cork village of Coachford has also been sanctioned, according to Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Kieran O’Donnell.
Galway City Council’s application to the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme is for € 27,000 euro.
It is intended to cover the cost of “a suitably qualified specialist consultant” who would provide a closer study of the outline proposals for proposed works at Dock Road, Seapoint promenade in Salthill and Galway city.
The funding will also be used to “develop both feasibility and real cost estimates around the proposed project”.
Similar funding of €30,420 has also been granted to Cork County Council for proposed works at Coachford village, Co Cork, which include a topographical survey of the river/stream courses and CCTV of the existing culverts.
This funding is in addition to €36,000 approved by the OPW in May 2023, bringing the total approved funding for this project to €66,420.
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW in 2009.
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, the OPW says.
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.
Works that are normally the responsibility of the local authorities will generally not be considered for OPW funding, the OPW says.
“Where such works would also mitigate the risk of flooding to properties, partial funding may be considered by the OPW,”it says.