merrion street

Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), today announced funding for two areas that have been badly hit by flooding in County Kerry; Cromane and Kenmare. 

Speaking in County Kerry this morning, Minister Hayes said: “I am pleased to announce that my office, the Office of Public Works, through our Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme, has today allocated €100,000 for embankment strengthening works in Cromane and €99,000 for works at Finnihy Bridge in Kenmare.  Both of these areas have received a considerable amount of coverage in recent times as a result of damage caused by floods and my colleagues in County Kerry have kept me apprised of the situation that has been developing here. I was keen, therefore, to visit the areas for myself and I had the opportunity to do so for the first time this morning”.

The Minister continued: “I can see now, at first hand, the importance of taking action in these areas, so I am allocating money for the removal of a beam and for the provision of a drain under the Finnihy Bridge in Kenmare.  I am also allocating funding towards the installation of gauges and the establishment of a monitoring programme at this location. It is important that I stress that it is still possible for Local Authorities to avail of funding under this Minor Works scheme and it is an area that is continuously given consideration by the officials in the OPW’s Flood Risk Management section”.

Minister Hayes was on a visit to County Kerry, during which he visited the above areas and also Rossbeigh beach.  He also visited Killarney House and Derrynane House to inspect ongoing renovation works.