Kilkenny County Council has lodged a planning application for the Graiguenamanagh–Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme with An Coimisiún Pleanála, Kevin "Boxer" Moran TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), has announced.

Minister Moran said "I am pleased to announce that following OPW approval, Kilkenny County Council submitted a planning application for a flood relief scheme for Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch to provide protection against a significant flood events. I wish to acknowledge the support from the community in Graiguenamanagh and Tinnahinch that was valuable to inform the design of a scheme for the area, which will protect some 84 properties, 53 commercial and 31 residential."

The Carlow and Graiguenamanagh area within the Barrow River Basin experienced serious flooding in late 2015 and early 2016. In 2020, under the Government's Flood Risk Management Plans, Kilkenny County Council, with OPW funding, appointed Byrne Looby (now Ayesa) as engineering and environmental consultants to develop the scheme.

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The preferred solution proposes raised defences along the River Barrow, plus raised defences and an upstream storage area on the River Duiske. Where feasible, new flood defence walls will replace existing structures. The measures are designed to protect against the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (100-year) fluvial flood event.

This submission follows extensive engineering analysis, environmental assessment and public engagement addressing flooding sources on the Barrow and Duiske and the options to safeguard Graiguenamanagh–Tinnahinch.

The Minister also noted Government investment of about €113 million in flood relief schemes completed and in progress across Kilkenny and Carlow. The Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme has secured planning consent and is now at Stage 3 (Detailed Design and Tender for Construction). Minor works funding for Tinnahinch includes raising a wall downstream of Graiguenamanagh Bridge, installing a demountable flood gate to isolate an area from Mill Race flooding, and providing demountable flood gates for individual properties.

The cost of these projects will be met under the National Development Plan's provisions for flood risk management. All schemes are designed to be future-proofed and adaptable to increasing flood risk associated with climate change.

Separately, the OPW has approved approximately €1.4 million for Kilkenny County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to deliver localised flood relief works at 18 additional locations across the county.