CONSTRUCTION of the long-awaited Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme is to commence in early 2028.
134 properties are to be protected under the flood relief scheme which was allocated €8.5m in August 2025.
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.
Subject to the necessary approvals, construction is expected to be completed by mid-2030. The first phase will address the most significant flood risk to properties arising from the fluvial flooding from the Victoria, Well and Atlantic streams.
A Part 10 planning application was submitted by Clare County Council to An Coimisiún Pleanála on 2 October 2024, which was granted planning approval on 20 August 2025.
Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kevin Moran (IND) confirmed the timeline for the project in response to a Dáil question by Clare TD Joe Cooney (FG).
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”.
According to the Junior Minister, 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.
€178,000 has also been approved for the County Council under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to strengthen the seawall in Kilkee.
Concerns s about coastal flooding and the need to protect Kilkee’s seafront, roads and homes from increasingly severe storms were also flagged by Deputy Cooney. He 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”.
