The go-ahead has been given to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to invite tenders for works to relieve flooding from the Carysfort-Maretimo Stream.

Dáil Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley yesterday announced that the €3m scheme will be funded under his Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007 - 2009 and work will start as soon as possible.

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The Carysfort-Maretimo catchment experiences severe flooding during heavy rainfall which this scheme will prevent in future. The capacity of the stream will be increased in the environs of Sandyford, Stillorgan and Blackrock to ensure it is capable of dealing with surface water after heavy rainfall. This will be achieved by culverting particular sections of the open channel.

The Minister said: "This clears the way for Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council to proceed to construction once they have completed the tender process and that no further approvals were required from his Department."

He said that he was "very much aware" of how important the scheme is to local householders and businesses, particularly those who had been affected by recent flooding.

(GK/SP)