Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney has welcomed confirmation that construction of the long-awaited Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme is expected to begin in early 2028.
The timeline was confirmed by Minister of State Kevin Boxer Moran in response to a Dáil question from Deputy Cooney, who sought an update on the €8.5 million scheme and plans to address coastal flooding in the Clare town.
Clare County Council received planning approval for the first phase of the scheme in August 2025. The project has finally moved on to the detailed design stage as delays arose from changes in land ownership and difficulties establishing ownership.
The scheme is designed to protect 134 properties from flooding associated with the Victoria, Well and Atlantic streams. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2030, subject to the necessary approvals.
Deputy Cooney said the timeline was welcome but pointed to the length of time the project had taken to reach this stage.
“The scheme has been ongoing for more than seven years. Homeowners in Kilkee have been living with the risk of flooding throughout that time, and we need to deliver these projects more quickly,” he said.
Deputy Cooney also raised concerns about coastal flooding and the need to protect Kilkee’s seafront, roads and homes from increasingly severe storms.
The Minister said the project was being advanced in two phases, with the first addressing flooding from the streams and a second focusing on coastal flood risk. Clare County Council is considering tender documentation for specialist consultants to carry out the necessary investigations and develop a coastal protection scheme.
The council has also been approved for €178,000 under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to strengthen the seawall in Kilkee.
Deputy Cooney said coastal protection needed to progress alongside the main scheme, while ensuring that any measures would not undermine the natural environment and tourism appeal of the town.
He welcomed changes to OPW funding for interim flood mitigation measures, with the maximum available to local authorities increased from €750,000 to €2 million.
“The people of Kilkee need to see progress on both the river and coastal flooding issues. The priority now is to move through the remaining stages as quickly as possible and provide lasting protection for homes and businesses,” he said.
