Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed clarification from Limerick County Council and the Office of Public Works that plans for the flood relief scheme in Foynes are on schedule and on time. Patrick O’Donovan was speaking after the public consultation in Foynes Community Centre where the OPW and the Council put plans for the scheme on public display.
“I’m glad that the Council and the OPW have clarified the situation for the local people who have been affected by flooding there. Their presentation comes after a recent visit by the Minister for the Office of Public Works Simon Harris to Foynes. He said that his Department are committed to the project and he communicated this to me after his visit. However some people decided to doubt the Minister’s commitment and tried to drum up doubt and negativity in the community, where this scheme is long overdue. I hope that they got the message from the OPW and the Council that this scheme is being progressed and is on track to be delivered.”
Patrick O’Donovan said he had discussed the issue with Simon Harris on several occasions since he visited Foynes and was using every opportunity to ensure that Foynes remained on the Minister’s priority list. “His predecessor in the Department Brian Hayes granted my request to have a special case made for Foynes to get a flood relief scheme based on the damage that had been caused to properties during the severe flooding last year and I’m pleased that the current Minister has continued that commitment to the community.”
“The next step for the project will be to go to planning for the scheme. This will be decided by the Council in the Spring and after that tenders will be sought. The original timeframe which the Minister gave when he was in Foynes is still on track, and that the timeframe for construction should begin in the late Summer and be completed in the Autumn of this year. “