Kerry County Council has received €955,000 of funding to install flood defences in Clieveragh, Listowel.

Minister Patrick O'Donovan, T.D provided the funding to the Council to protect some 50 properties that are at risk of flooding. The Clieveragh area has experienced significant flooding in 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2015 and again in 2023.

The funding will enable construction works to include:

• over ground storm water attenuation pond (purpose built water storage facility) at Curraghatoosane

• new open channel to convey the outflow from the pond to the Clieveragh watercourse to the south

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• box culvert under the R552.

This funding comes from the €1.3 billion that has been allocated for flood relief measures under the National Development Plan (NDP).

Minister O'Donovan said: "Recently, I met with concerned community and business representatives from Listowel, who have experienced flooding in recent years. Only this summer, after a significant heavy rainfall event, the streams in Clieveragh could not take the volumes of water.

"People cannot be asked to live with the risk and the fear of flooding where an easy solution can be identified and easily delivered. While there is a planned flood relief scheme for Listowel, a simple solution can be easily delivered in advance of the main scheme to manage the flood risk at the boundary of the town."

"Kerry County Council and the OPW have already discussed the most efficient ways to carry out these works, and an announcement on this will be made shortly."

This funding allocation brings the total amount of funding provided to manage flooding at Clieveragh to €1.1 million. During 2016-2017, €176,000 was allocated to Kerry County Council to explore and design a flood relief solution for the area.