FLOOD FORECASTING
Ahead of the launch of Be Winter Ready this week, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran has revealed that the recruitment of specialised expertise to support the development of the National Flood Forecasting Service is well advanced.
The five-year development plan for the establishment of this service is being implemented by Met Eireann, the OPW and local authorities. “When established this service will be a signif- icant resource to support the management of flood risk, especially those areas that it is not feasible to protect through major flood relief schemes,” the Minister said.
Minister Moran has also praised Local Authorities for taking a proactive approach to address flood risks in their areas.
The Minister, who was speaking in Carrick-on-Shannon on Monday revealed that flood relief schemes will be progressed for the town along with Leitrim, Mohill and Dromod. The €9m schemes will be advanced by Leitrim County Council as the lead agency working in collaboration with the OPW as part of the Government’s investment of €1 billion on flood relief over the next decade under Project Ireland 2040.
The Minister said: “Good progress has been made to date between the OPW and Local Authorities in agreeing the arrangements to progress the schemes nationally to ensure that the delivery of flood relief solutions in the shortest possible timeframe and here today we have mapped a way forward for the advancement of flood relief schemes in Leitrim.”
The Minister also took the opportunity to set out the other co-ordinated initiatives by members of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group, to help to further manage the flood risk for those living and working near the River Shannon. navigation requirements.