A contract to design the Sandymount Flood Defence Scheme in Dublin has been awarded to Jacobs by the City Council.

Sandymount is one of the city areas most vulnerable to coastal flooding and is also, separately, at risk from surface water flooding, i.e. run-off from rainfall.

The contract awarded to the global company is to carry out a comprehensive study of the risks to the community of Sandymount from both coastal and pluvial flooding.

Jacobs has been commissioned to design works and measures to protect the community from the current risks, with those works to be as fully adaptable as possible to protect against the medium and longer term risks (both coastal and pluvial) associated with Climate Change.

A key requirement of those designs is to minimise their impact on the environment, including on the various Natura 2000 sites for which Dublin Bay is designated.    

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Opportunities to enhance the public amenity and to provide co-benefits shall be explored wherever possible subject to any constraints arising from the need to protect our environment, habitats and protected species.

Opportunities to enhance environmental aspects of the area where possible will also be explored.  

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan, said: "I am pleased to announce this morning that Dublin City Council has awarded a contract to Jacobs to design the Sandymount Flood Defence Scheme.

"This is a major step forward in defending the Sandymount coastline against flooding. It is great to see progress finally being made in this long overdue infrastructural project.

"Today's announcement paves the way for early construction of the flood-relief scheme and a clear direction of travel for the community and for homeowners who cannot get home insurance in the area."

Jacobs Technical and Environmental teams will work collaboratively from the start of the project so that all environmental considerations are taken into account at the very earliest stages of their work.

Jacobs will also engage and consult with the general public, stakeholders and other parties on behalf of Dublin City Council throughout the life of the project, in order to facilitate two-way communication. 

This contract is being fully funded by the Office of Public Works [OPW] as part of their Flood Relief Programme under the National Development Plan 2021-2030.