Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
271. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the position regarding the new national fund aimed at removing river blockages; the €90,000 allocated to Wicklow County Council; the criteria used in determining the removal of river blockages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47208/26]
View answerOn 25th May 2026, I announced the allocation of €3 million in funding to support local authorities to remove blockages that are a source of restriction to river conveyance and are causing an increase in flood risk to properties. This once-off allocation can be used to fund the immediate removal of blockages from locations such as river crossings, bridges or culverts and that are causing a restriction to rivers which pose an immediate risk to flooding of properties. Each local authority is responsible for undertaking the works to remove the river conveyance blockages, which must not cause flood risk elsewhere. The allocation must be used in accordance with the purpose of the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to mitigate fluvial and coastal flooding.
The funding amount allocated for Wicklow County Council under the scheme is €90,000 which represents up to 90% contribution by the OPW to the overall funding amount required for the removal of conveyance restrictions that have been identified by the Council. The calculation of each local authority’s funding amount employed a combination of criteria and included, the local authority’s administrative area, population and length of river channels.
Further information is available at: www.gov.ie/en/office-of-public-works/press-releases/minister-moran-announces-details-of-3-million-funding-to-remove-river-conveyance-blockages-and-details-of-changes-to-the-minor-works-scheme-to-broaden-the-scale-and-scope-of-addressing-localised-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk/.
