Almost €80k granted for minor Mountmellick flood works
The aftermath of the notorious Mountmellick floods in 2017. File image: PA:Press Association
ALMOST €80,000 has been granted for minor flood relief works in Mountmellick.
Minister Kevin ‘Boxer” Moran announced funding approval today for minor flood mitigation works in the town’s Manor Road.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has approved funding of €78,737 for conducting remedial works on a retaining wall on the Manor Road, under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
The Manor Road area has suffered repeated flooding over the years, particularly during the notorious floods of November 2017.
More than 40 homes along the Manor Road were flooded when the Owenass River burst its banks during those infamous floods, when the army had to be called in.
This most recent winter, Manor Road was once again struck by heavy flooding, with both the Manor Road and Chapel Street recording their highest levels of flood water since measuring systems were first installed in 2019.
Having identified the Mountmellick area as heavily at risk of flooding, given the fact that several rivers - including the Owenass and the Pound - surround and run through the area, Laois Co Council moved forward a €20m Flood Relief Scheme in partnership with the OPW.
The plans were finalised in December 2025 and are now with An Coimisiún Pleanála for approval.
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW in 2009. Since then, 12 funding applications by Laois Co Council have been supported by this programme.
Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €2 million in each instance. Funding of up to 90 per cent of the cost is available for approved projects.
