A total of €4.71m has been allocated for the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme from the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The Scheme represents the final phase of flood defence works throughout the town and includes the townlands of Clonroadmore, Ballybeg and Clareabbey.
Works proposed under the Scheme include a Flood Overflow Culvert from St. Flannan’s Stream to the Clare Abbey flood plain, a Flood Overflow Culvert from Ballybeg Stream to the Clare Abbey flood plain, and the upgrade of the existing flood defence embankment between the Quin Road and the Clarecastle tidal barrage, including rehabilitation and construction of sluices.
“This funding allocation is welcome news for residents and businesses in the Clonroadmore, Ballybeg and Clareabbey areas who will now be afforded the same protection from river flooding that has been afforded to other parts of Ennis in recent years. In particular, St Flannan’s College and its students have been badly affected by flooding disruption and the completion of this scheme will alleviate the problem,” said Cllr. Ann Norton, Mayor of Ennis.
The Mayor added, “The provision of flood defences throughout Ennis in recent years has prevented the widespread flooding of November 2009 from reoccurring. We witnessed at first hand the benefits of completed flood defences last Christmas when river levels were on a par with those seven years ago but did not cause significant flooding.”