Update issued on tens of millions worth of vital Kilkenny infrastructure projects
Multiple flood relief schemes are underway in Kilkenny but remain some years away from completion
Status updates on four Kilkenny flood relief schemes were given this week as communities continue to rebuild after destruction caused by Storm Chandra in January.
Minister of State for Public Expenditure and Infrastructure, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD, gave a written answer to a question submitted by Carlow/Kilkenny TD, Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, outlining the progress on schemes in Graignamanagh-Tinnahinch, Ballyhale, Piltown and Freshford.
The largest of these is the Graignanmanagh-Tinnahinch project, an area badly affected by recent flooding, which is estimated to cost €21m and commenced in March 2020 with the scheme only being referred to An Coimisiún Pleanála in December for planning consent.
A total of 84 properties will be protected from once in century fluvial flood events once the scheme is complete. However, subject to planning consent being granted, construction will not begin until the end of 2027 with delivery not expected for a further two years.
In Ballyhale, a €2.7m flood relief scheme commenced in April 2020 with conditional planning permission granted in August 2024. The defences will protect 28 properties from the once in a century flood event.
Tender for a contractor is due to be issued in the coming weeks while construction is expected to start later this year.
These two schemes are part of the first tranche of around 100 projects nationwide with a further 50 being trialled in the second tranche under a pilot model for delivering.
Included in the second tranche are the Piltown and Freshford flood relief schemes which are at an early stage of data collection to inform the appointment of engineering and environmental consultants.
Minister Moran also stated that he had met with Kilkenny County Council in March to discuss interim measures that could be introduced in the short-term to reduce the impact to communities affected by the storm.
The Council submitted a business case for interim measures for review, the outcome of which the Minister hopes to inform the Council of shortly.
Article funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme