Minister Moran welcomes progress on flood relief schemes for Donegal
- Foilsithe: 29 Samhain 2019
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 9 Eanáir 2020
Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Flood Relief, visited Lifford Town today, 29 November 2019, to meet with local Councillors and other groups to discuss ongoing plans to deal with various flooding issues in the County. During the visit, the Minister outlined the plans currently underway by the OPW and Donegal County Council to progress seven flood relief schemes in the County, and announced that a further three flood relief schemes would now be advanced for the County. The Minister said that this announcement underlined his and the government’s serious commitment to address flooding in Donegal and reflected the OPW’s significant and continued investment in the flood risk management programme for the County.
The three additional projects to be advanced are located in Buncrana, Rathmelton and Ballybofey/Stranorlar.
The Minister said:
"I am delighted to say that the OPW and Donegal County Council have now agreed to progress flood relief projects in Buncrana, Rathmelton and Ballybofey/Stranorlar and I would like to assure the people in those towns that the necessary work to engage consultants for those projects will get underway straight away."
The Minister went on to say:
“The three projects added today will bring flood protection to over 120 properties in the County when completed."
The Minister also welcomed the news that Donegal County Council was, today, advertising for consultants for five other projects in Donegal which include, Burnfoot, Castlefin, Glenties, Downings and Keerykeel and noted that consultants had already been appointed for the Lifford project. The Minister also noted that a preferred Scheme for Raphoe would be placed on public exhibition early next year which would benefit well over 200 properties when complete.
The Minister indicated that two applications under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme had been approved for Donegal Town and Currindale, Termon. The works in Donegal town will consist of upgrading of walls at Castle St, cutting back of trees and vegetation on the River Eske, purchase of water rails and bunding together with the replacement of a culvert at Brookfield Bridge, Drumbar.
The Minister said:
"Projects such as these show my Office’s commitment to providing local authorities with the necessary funding to undertake very important local flood relief works. The Minor Works scheme has been very successful to date in facilitating the carrying out of a whole range of works and studies by local authorities in all parts of the country. These minor works in Donegal town will be of considerable benefit to the town pending the implementation of the planned full flood relief scheme for the town."
The Minister concluded by saying:
"I fully understand the stress that the threat of flooding causes and the frustration that people feel at delays in delivering measures to protect their properties. What I am announcing today shows that every effort is being made by me, the government and Donegal County Council to progress the projects in Donegal in the quickest possible timeframe. These 10 projects represent an estimated combined investment of over €25 million in flood relief in Co Donegal."
ENDS
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