Source: Government of Ireland
The Minister highlighted that in the past few years the OPW has trebled the number of major flood relief schemes at design and construction; and that it takes many years to deliver a major flood relief scheme. Following Storm Chandra, the Minister met with certain local authorities and allocated €6.6m in funding for interim measures to mitigate flood risk in those communities that were impacted by that event.
The Minister said: “I have taken the lessons learned from Strom Chandra and other storms, and today I am announcing that this revised Minor Works Scheme is being expanded to further provide for interim flood mitigation measures for communities where a major flood relief scheme is planned, but not complete. I am confident that by availing of this scheme and introducing interim measures, local authorities will be able to reduce the impact of any significant flood event on the local community until the full protection required is provided through a completed scheme. The revisions to the Scheme will also better support local authorities in dealing with coastal erosion problems that are impacting communities”.
Blockages of river conveyancing are a common source of flooding to properties. While the revised Minor Works Scheme can provide funding to address these restrictions, the Minister today announced the details of the allocation of €3 million in funding to local authorities to expedite their efforts to remove river conveyance blockages. This once-off allocation can be used to fund the immediate removal of blockages from locations such as river crossings, bridges or culverts and that are causing a restriction to rivers which pose an immediate risk to flooding of properties.
Minister Moran concluded: “The improvements to the Minor Works Scheme, in addition to the €3 million in funding will support the essential work undertaken by Local Authorities to address localised flooding and coastal erosion problems. I encourage Local Authorities to avail of both initiatives and today’s announcement is a further demonstration of how this Government remains committed to supporting Local Authorities to manage the flood and coastal erosion risks in their areas”.
The OPW will be writing to the local authorities today with the details and the supporting documentation will be available on the OPW website in the coming days.
For further information or to speak to a spokesperson please contact pressoffice@opw.ie
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NOTES:
Funding Support to Remove River Conveyance Blockages.
On 21 August 2025, Mr. Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD, announced that he was introducing a €3m fund to support local authorities to remove river blockages that are a source of restriction to conveyance, and are causing an increase in flood risk to properties. This is a once-off fund and is without precedent.
- The calculation of each Local Authority’s funding amount employed a combination of factors and included, the relevant Local Authority’s administrative area, population and length of river channels.
- The allocated amount represents up to 90% contribution by the OPW to the overall funding amount required for river conveyance restrictions that have been identified by the relevant Local Authority.
Funding Amounts for each Local Authority
LOCAL AUTHORITY – AMOUNT (€)
Galway City Council €50,000
Longford County Council €50,000
Carlow County Council €50,000
Monaghan County Council €50,000
Louth County Council €50,000
Leitrim County Council €50,000
Cork City Council €50,000
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council €50,000
Laois County Council €60,000
Westmeath County Council €60,000
Offaly County Council €60,000
Sligo County Council €70,000
Cavan County Council €70,000
Kilkenny County Council €70,000
Roscommon County Council €70,000
South Dublin County Council €70,000
Waterford City And County Council €70,000
Fingal County Council €90,000
Wicklow County Council €90,000
Kildare County Council €90,000
Wexford County Council €100,000
Meath County Council €110,000
Clare County Council €110,000
Limerick City And County Council €120,000
Dublin City Council €140,000
Tipperary County Council €150,000
Kerry County Council €200,000
Galway County Council €200,000
Mayo County Council €200,000
Donegal County Council €200,000
Cork County Council €200,000
Total €3,000,000