Limerick TD and Minister of State for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed the announcement this morning that Limerick will benefit from a ten-year €1 billion Programme of Investment in Flood Relief Measures.
The first tranche of €257m in funding for 50 new flood relief schemes to proceed to detailed design and construction phase was announced in Athlone by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran today (Thursday).
The Flood Risk Management Plans published allows the Government to build on significant investment on previous flood defence schemes around the country. These schemes successfully provide protection to 9,500 properties and the economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided are estimated at €1.9 billion.
There are currently also nine major schemes under construction and a further 24 at design/development which together will provide protection to a further 12,000 properties.
Patrick O’Donovan said: “This is great news for people in County Limerick and in particular for the communities in Athea and Rathkeale. I’m delighted the Government has listened to the people here in County Limerick. This significant investment will benefit our communities for many years to come.
“We all know the devastating impact flooding has on families and through these state of the art flood defences we will be able to give people some piece of mind.”
As part of the initial phase of projects the following schemes have been selected – Limerick City & Environs, Athea, Castleconnell and Rathkeale.
“A new website, www.floodinfo.ie has been launched where people can view the community risk, measures in place and those proposed to tackle flood risk in these 300 areas.”
This map and plan viewer website is another important resource that supports planning, emergency response planning, and empowers people and communities to plan and respond to flood risk.
Patrick added that “I have been working closely with my colleague and Minister for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD and his predecessor Sean Canney TD to advance funding in relation to the Athea and Rathkeale Schemes for some time now and I am delighted that funding has now been put in place for the scheme.”
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