A key flood alleviation project for part of Ennis has been dealt a blow with news that it has been further delayed.
Over 120 homes and businesses, along with St. Flannan’s College, are due to be protected by the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme, and works were set to begin this summer.
That now won’t happen until next year, however, as a contractual issue means the works are to be re-tendered.
This project was given the go-ahead in February and as recently as April, Clare County Council told local representatives that it expected works to begin within weeks.
That hasn’t happened, however, after a contractual issue arose
This relates to a statutory order that gave legal effect to a Labour Court recommendation on pay levels in the construction sector – in short, the tender chosen had estimated pay levels below what the firm is legally obliged to pay its workers.
As a result, the firm has withdrawn its tender, and the competition has now cancelled, with fresh tenders now set to be sought from later this month.
Works now won’t begin until next spring, but the project’s 8.6 million euro of funding is secure.
The Scheme represents the final phase of flood defense works throughout the town and includes the townlands of Clonroadmore, Ballybeg and Clareabbey.
Properties in those areas were badly damaged during flooding in Ennis in 2009.
