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

A total of €27,000 has been sanctioned to progress measures on the Brittas Stream in Clonaslee, Co Laois. The funding covers pre-construction activities; Appropriate Assessment (AA) screening of the stream and culvert; culvert design and hydraulic modelling (within the Clonaslee Flood Relief Scheme area); replacement of the existing culvert on the Brittas Stream; and vegetation clearance and grading of the stream from the culvert to the Clodiagh.

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Introduced in 2009, the scheme provides funding to local authorities for minor flood mitigation works or studies aimed at localised flooding and coastal protection issues where solutions can be clearly identified and delivered within a short timeframe. Since its launch, 12 funding applications from Laois County Council have been supported under the scheme (see www.floodinfo.ie/county-summary/).

Applications are considered for projects up to €2 million each and for studies up to €750,000. The OPW contribution for approved projects is 90% for the first €300,000 and 95% for the balance above €300,000 up to €2 million.

Works that would ordinarily fall to local authorities are generally not eligible for OPW funding; however, where such works also reduce the flood risk to properties, partial funding may be considered. Local authorities must be satisfied that their works will not increase flood risk elsewhere. The initiation and delivery of any approved works are matters for the relevant local authority.