The Office of Public Works (OPW) has granted approval of €90,000 in additional funding for flood mitigation works in Tallow.

Waterford City and County Council has received the funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran has announced the approval of the council’s application for funding.

The funding will support an analysis of flooding at West Street, Tallow which includes a study to establish the causes of flooding and to identify feasible solutions as well as a topographical survey, investigation of flooding, preparation of flood defence options report and AA screening of a preferred scheme.

Importance to local community

Waterford Minister Mary Butler said: “I want to thank my colleague Minister Kevin Moran for announcing funding for key flood mitigation works in Tallow. I want to credit him for immediately recognising the importance of this issue to the community there, particularly the people of West Street. I am advised that these works will include an investigation of flooding, a topographical survey, preparation of a flood defence options report, a study to establish the causes of flooding and to identify potential feasible solutions, and An AA screening of a preferred scheme. Credit is due also to Waterford City and County Council’s application for funding under the Office of Public Works’ Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.”

Minister Butler concluded: “This is a village which was devastated when Storm Babet caused torrential flooding in late 2023. Residents have remained fearful during periods of heavy rain in the years since and I’m hopeful that they will take some reassurance from this week’s announcement and the impending mitigation works. I look forward to welcoming Minister Moran to Tallow and West Waterford in the coming weeks.”

Protecting from flooding

Also welcoming the announcement, Waterford Minister of State John Cummins  said: “Today’s announcement is very welcome news for the people of Tallow. I witnessed first-hand the damage that was done to West Waterford during the 2023 floods. I have worked with Minister Moran on a number of OPW projects pertaining to Waterford including this application for funding.”

He continued: “It is critical that we analyse all options to protect our communities from the impacts of flooding. The funding announced today will be used to investigate the landscape and allow for a flood defence report so the department and the Council can best prepare for the future. I want to thank Minister Kevin Boxer Moran for working with me on this and for his Department’s funding commitment. I think we all unfortunately know someone who was impacted by the flooding. This funding is another step in the right direction.”

Delivering real protection

Sinn Fein TD for Waterford, Conor McGuinness, said: “This is a long-overdue step in the right direction. I raised the need for urgent investment in flood defences for Tallow in my maiden speech to Dáil Éireann, and have continued to lobby at national level for progress. The people of Tallow have waited too long – it’s not good enough that basic flood protection takes years of pressure just to get to the planning stage.”
He added: “This funding will support a detailed study, site investigations, and design proposals for flood mitigation at West Street. But we need to be clear – this is not the delivery of works. It’s the start of a process, and we will hold Government and the Council to account to ensure it moves quickly and delivers real protection.”

As reported by WLR, Tallow suffered significant flooding in 2023 which resulted in residents calling for immediate action.

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