merrion street

Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), today announced an allocation of €28 million under the OPW’s Flood Risk Management Programme to Bray Town Council for flood relief works to be carried out on the River Dargle, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Speaking in Bray this morning, Minister Hayes said: "I am pleased to be able to announce that funding of €28 million is to be allocated to Bray Town Council towards the cost of the construction of a new culvert at Bray Bridge, new embankments, new flood defence walls, channel widening and channel regarding. The area has been flooded several times in the last 100 years. This scheme will provide protection to approximately 650 homes along with 8 commercial properties. The level of protection provided will protect against approximately a 300-year flood event.

"At a time when difficult decisions have to be made in order to adhere to the current severe financial constraints, this very substantial allocation underlines the Government's recognition of the serious personal and economic impact of flooding and the importance it attaches to addressing the problem,"

The Minister concluded: "This major capital investment commitment for Bray is part of the annual capital funding provision of €45m, which I announced last year, and demonstrates yet again this Government’s and OPW’s commitment to a sustained capital programme to improve the level of flood risk protection for homes, businesses and infrastructure." the Minister said.