€55,800 in funding has been confirmed under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works to carry out works on the River Nore at Barnhill, between Durrow and the Kilkenny border.
The works will include removal of deadwood/debris and pruning of trees that are causing restrictions on approximately 3.5km of the River Nore in South Laois.
This section of River bounds County Laois on the East Bank and County Kilkenny on the West Bank.
The Minister for the Office of Public Works, Kieran O’Donnell TD confirmed the funding earlier this week.
Laois Fine Gael TD, Charlie Flanagan spoke after the announcement, saying: “This is good news for the area.
“I am very pleased that significant funding has been secured to carry out works on the Teirweir project.
“I am acutely aware of other Rivers across the county which need attention and will continue to work with Laois County Council and my government colleagues to endeavour to secure additional funding for flood prevention across the county.”
The major flood relief schemes in Mountmellick and Portarlington tend to grab the headlines, but these “minor” works are carried out on a more consistent basis.
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works in 2009 to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding.
Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance.
Laois has been awarded funding for ten such projects since the scheme came into existence, with half of those coming in 2023.
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