Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran Meets With Kilkenny County Council Six Flood Relief Schemes in Kilkenny to Be Advanced With Investment of €29 Million

Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran - Flood Relief Funding

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran T.D., Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Flood Relief, was in Kilkenny today where he met with John Paul Phelan, T.D., Minister of State for Local Government and Electoral Reform and elected members and officials from Kilkenny County Council to put in place arrangements for the advancement of flood relief schemes in County Kilkenny.

The Minister said, "I am delighted to be here in Kilkenny today and to meet with Minister Phelan and the elected members and officials of Kilkenny County Council. Kilkenny City was one of the first areas to be addressed following a number of severe floods and has enjoyed the benefits of this investment over the past twenty years or so. We are meeting today to examine how to deliver on the flood risk management plans for the county and have agreed mechanisms for the progression of flood relief schemes for Ballyhale, Freshford, Graiguenamanagh, Inistioge, Piltown and Thomastown. These schemes involve an investment of over €29 million and once completed will provide flood protection to over 360 properties in Kilkenny. Kilkenny County Council will be leading on the implementation of these six projects in collaboration with my Office. Kilkenny County Council will also be taking on additional engineering resources funded by my Office to progress and deliver these schemes as soon as possible".

The elected members of Kilkenny County Council adopted the Flood Risk Management Plans published by the OPW in May 2018 for the Suir, Nore and Barrow rivers on 21 June 2018. In adopting the plans, the Members have sought further consultation and agreement with affected communities, public and other groups and organisations. The Minister went on to say, "The measures set out in the flood risk management plans are not definitive and final; more detailed assessments are required at a local level and further public and stakeholder consultation will be undertaken. As such, there is further scope for the community's views to influence the measures that are progressed to implementation".
The Minister concluded, "The Government is providing investment of €1 billion on flood relief over the next decade under Project Ireland 2040, our national development plan and it is committed to ensuring that the planning and delivery of flood relief solutions is achieved in the shortest possible timeframe. Significant progress has been made today in the advancement of flood relief schemes for Kilkenny. In partnership with Kilkenny County Council, I look forward to the delivery of these schemes for the community in the Marble County of Kilkenny".

For further information please contact Ciaran Conroy, OPW Client Services and Communications at 087 947 5552 or opwcsc@opw.ie

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