Details of a new €26 million plan to protect Ennis in Co Clare from flood waters were unveiled today.
The project, which has been in development since 2001, was announced today at the offices of Ennis Town Council by Minister for State Tom Parlon.
It involves the construction of new barriers and embankments along the River Fergus in Ennis and some outlying areas and the replacement of some existing embankments.
A number of surface water pumping stations will be built, and sluice gates will be refurbished.
The town, which was recently named Ireland's Tidiest Town, has suffered serious flooding at least five times since 1989. The most recent flooding was last year.
Up to 900 homes in the town are regarded as at risk from possible flooding of the River Fergus.
Construction on the new barriers is set to begin in 2007. The work, to be split into two phases, will take at least four years.