€6.5m Approved for Interim Flood Protection in Eight Local Authorities Post-Storm Chandra

Over €6.5 million in one-off funding has been approved for eight local authorities to implement interim flood protection measures. This allocation responds to Storm Chandra, which brought strong winds and heavy rain, particularly impacting the southeast of the country in late January.

Wexford County Council will receive over €2.6 million, and Kilkenny County Council over €1.1 million, making up the majority of the funding. Other recipients include Louth County Council (€699,000), South Dublin County Council (€659,000), Dublin City Council (€591,000), Carlow County Council (€484,000), Wicklow County Council (€332,000), and Waterford City and County Councils collectively (€151,500).

Minister of State Kevin «Boxer» Moran, responsible for the Office of Public Works (OPW), announced the funding. He noted that many affected areas, including Enniscorthy, Arklow, and Aughrim, experienced flooding before planned relief schemes were delivered. Moran thanked the local authorities for their prompt response and implementation of measures to mitigate future flood impacts ahead of next winter.

Minister Moran also stated he would soon announce an increase in the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme threshold from €750,000 to €2 million. This aims to enable local authorities to better plan and implement localised flood risk solutions.