Almost 800 homes and businesses in East Cork approved for grant-aided flood gates

Householders can get up to €3,900 each for flood gates to protect their properties, while for businesses it is up to €10k

Sally O’Brien of the Farmgate Cafe in Midleton surveys the damage caused by Storm Babet in 2023. Picture: Chani Anderson

Almost 800 homes and businesses in the East Cork area have now been approved for the installation of grant-aided flood gates, while a contractor has been appointed to start fitting them in the next couple of weeks.

The news was contained in the most recent update from senior county council officials working with the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme.

Householders can get up to €3,900 each for flood gates to protect their properties while for businesses it is up to €10,000.

To date, there have been 796 applications approved under the IPP (Individual Property Protection) grant scheme out of 960 submitted.

Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide described the uptake of the IPP scheme as “impressive".

“However, I know that some residents who averted internal flooding during Storm Babet in October 2023 due to being home on the day and erecting makeshift barriers are anxiously awaiting a reconsideration of their cases. The Government needs to extend the scheme as a matter of urgency to include them,” he said.

A contractor has been appointed to fit the first 250 flood gates, and another tender is currently being reviewed for further installations.

Council engineers and their consultants have also estimated that the flood prevention works for the town may impact between 220 and 235 landowners.

They said this may involve both “temporary and permanent acquisition” of their land.

The scheme is likely to cost more than €56m and the council estimates it will be submitted for statutory consent early next year.

The council said that sandbagging defences have been completed at the Woodlands estate in Midleton.

Officials added that the Tír Cluain estate has been identified for potential advance works, which could protect up to 111 properties.

Work is ongoing on the preparation of planning documents for these advance works. Other locations for possible advance works include defences between the GAA grounds and Beechwood/Oakwood estates.

“It's encouraging to hear of potential advance works for a substantial number of properties in the Tír Cluain estate. It's vital that measures for settlements that may be suitable for natural flood defences that can be developed quickly, such as Mogeely, be expedited,” Mr Quaide said.

The council said meetings have been held with landowners in the Mogeely area about interim mitigation works.

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Discussions are ongoing and if an agreement is reached, the council will send an application to the OPW for funding for minor works.

It stated that natural water retention measures are likely to form part of this scheme.

Meanwhile, a contractor has been appointed to carry out interim flood relief works in Ballyvourney ahead of a planned major scheme. The contractor is expected to start work shortly.