Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 April 2026
34. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the plans his Department has to provide additional inland flood defences and coastal erosion defences in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27394/26]
View answerI am very familiar with and committed to addressing the coastal erosion and flooding issues in county Clare having met with the Council over recent months.
To date, there have been 6 completed flood relief schemes in Co. Clare – Ennis Lower, Ennis Upper, Ennis South, Sixmilebridge, Quin and Springfield. The OPW is working closely with Clare County Council to implement a number of initiatives to tackle coastal erosion and flooding in the county. We are currently funding two local authority staff in Clare County Council to manage the delivery of flood relief schemes, a Senior Executive Engineer and Executive Engineer.
Clare County Council is currently leading the delivery of four flood relief schemes in County Clare, in the townlands of Kilkee, Shannon, Bunratty and Kilrush. These schemes are funded by the OPW from the Government's €1.3bn investment in flood measures under the National Development Plan to 2030.
The €8.5m Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme to protect 134 properties was submitted for planning during 2024 and was approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála in August 2025. The detailed design for the construction of the scheme is now being progressed. The original Project Brief for the Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme also included a 1 in 200 year standard of protection for coastal flooding. The design solution for addressing coastal flooding risk (Phase 2 – Coastal) in Kilkee will be progressed at a later stage.
Work to finalise the design of the Shannon Flood Relief scheme to protect 1,400 properties is continuing and the scheme option is scheduled to be submitted for planning approval in Q2 2027. The Scheme is close to a Special Area of Conservation and there is significant engagement with stakeholders including with the National Parks and Wildlife Services.
The OPW, is working with Clare County Council on potential flow path in Bunratty that may increase the knowledge of the flood risk in this area and inform a feasibility study for the scheme.
Clare County Council is finalising tender documents for technical consultancy services for the Kilrush Flood Relief Scheme which it plans to issue later this year.
Minor Works Scheme
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide 90% funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding or coastal erosion problems. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. The funding available for each scheme has recently been increased from €750,000 to €2 million. Further details of this increased scope are due to be announced shortly.
Since 2009, OPW has approved 44 projects and some €3.9m to Clare County Council under this Minor Works Schemes. 14 of these are in relation to Coastal Erosion with approved funding of some €0.86m for these schemes.
The Government recognises the risks associated with climate change and that increases in sea levels and storm surges will result in increased frequency of coastal erosion. In response to these challenges, the recommendations outlined in the Report of the Interdepartmental Group on National Coastal Change Management Strategy are being implemented.
Amongst the key recommendations of the Report is the assignment of the lead coordination role to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which is responsible for chairing an Interdepartmental Steering Group on Coastal Change Management.
The OPW has been designated by Government as the national lead coordinating body for the assessment of coastal change hazards and risks and the assessment of technical options and constraints. These assessments will build upon indicative assessment work previously undertaken by the OPW under the Irish Coastal Protection Strategy Study. These assessments will also help to develop a multi-annual programme of work to assess coastal risk nationally.
