Extra funding secured for flood protection works at Wicklow beach

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has approved Wicklow County Council’s request for funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Under the scheme, the OPW has approved additional funding of €31,638 to extend the remit of a coastal erosion risk management study currently underway from Arklow North Beach to Clogga Beach.

The total approved funding to date is now €153,138. This extra funding will allow the consultant to conduct a wave overtopping review and associated flood analysis to assess the extent of the problem along the Arklow coastline.

The scheme was first introduced by the OPW in 2009 and aims to provide funding to allow the local authority to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection issues.

The scheme generally applies where a solution can be identified quickly and achieved in a short time frame.

20 funding applications by Wicklow County Council have been supported under this scheme to date including dredging of the River Slaney, risk management studies at Brittas Bay and Ennereilly and identifying feasible measures to address flooding in Baltinglass Town Centre.

Wicklow County Council must be satisfied that the works will not have a significant impact on flood risk elsewhere.

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 90pc of the cost is available for approved projects.

Applications are assessed by the OPW based on certain economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio.