Minister O’Donovan announces the appointment of contractors for Westport Flood Relief Scheme

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Patrick O’Donovan, today announced the appointment by Mayo County Council of Cunningham Civil and Marine Ltd. to construct the Westport Flood Relief Scheme. Delivered in partnership with the OPW, the Westport Flood Relief Scheme has a budget of €1.181 million and is part of the government’s investment under Project Ireland 2040 of €1.3 billion in flood relief to protect communities across Ireland from the impacts of climate change through future-proofed, adaptable flood relief schemes.

Welcoming the appointment, Minister O’Donovan said:

“Having visited Westport and seen the site for the proposed flood relief scheme earlier this summer in June, I am delighted to be able to announce the appointment of contractors today by Mayo County Council, working closely with the Office of Public Works. For the local communities in the two estates affected by the extreme flood event in 2015, it will be reassuring to know that the 36 homes at risk of flooding will be protected soon, once works are completed.”

Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly, added:

“I am pleased to see the appointment of Cunningham Civil & Marine Ltd. as contractors for the Construction Stage of the Cois Abhainn and Ashwood Flood Relief Scheme in Westport. Over the past three years, Mayo County Council, working in conjunction with the Office of Public Works and other statutory bodies, have advanced this flood relief scheme which protects these two residential areas, both of which were adversely impacted by flooding from the adjoining Carrowbeg River in December 2015. I wish to thank the staff of Mayo County Council, the OPW and Langan Consulting Engineers Ltd for their work in progressing this scheme to construction stage and I also wish to acknowledge the support of the Elected Members of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District in advancing this scheme.”

The preferred option for flood defences in the two residential estates of Cois Abhainn and Ashwood was developed by Langan Consultant Engineers in consultation with the public and received planning permission in November 2021. It includes a series of hard defences, including flood embankments and walls, which will protect properties to the 1% (or 1 in 100) Annual Exceedance Probability flood standard.

For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

Find us on Facebook @opwireland