Saturday, 16 August 2025
Met Éireann Awards €2.8 Million to Six Climate and Flood Research Projects Met Éireann has announced the allocation of €2.8 million in funding to six new university-led research projects focused on advancing Ireland’s capacity in climate services and flood forecasting. The funding is being provided through the Met Éireann Research Call 2024, as part of […]
Met Éireann has announced the allocation of €2.8 million in funding to six new university-led research projects focused on advancing Ireland’s capacity in climate services and flood forecasting. The funding is being provided through the Met Éireann Research Call 2024, as part of the national forecaster’s efforts to strengthen scientific understanding of extreme weather and climate change impacts.
Five of the six projects are funded under TRANSLATE, Met Éireann’s climate services programme. These projects will develop climate tools and insights to support adaptation, policy planning, and decision-making in the face of increasing climate variability and extreme events.
The sixth project, separate from TRANSLATE, will focus specifically on flood forecasting, aiming to improve understanding of complex flood events involving river discharge, tidal patterns, and storm surge interactions.
NOTE: Ireland is legally bound by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, which mandates the country to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. Achieving these targets requires evidence-based policies, robust climate modelling, and advanced forecasting tools.
The six projects receiving funding, along with their host institutions, leads, and awarded amounts, are:
| Project | Institution | Project Lead | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| T3UD: TRANSLATE-3: Underpinning Data | University of Galway | Dr. Paul Nolan | €599,992 |
| BRACE: Building Resilience and Adaptation Capacity for future extreme Events | University College Cork | Dr. Paraic Ryan | €599,981 |
| EXACT: Extremes Across Climates and Timeframes | Maynooth University | Prof. Conor Murphy | €599,704 |
| CLIMB: Climate services for Multi-sector Benefits | University College Cork | Dr. Paul Holloway | €299,392 |
| ClimEnergise: Climate-Informed Energy Systems Planning to Support Ireland’s Net Zero Ambitions | University College Cork | Dr. Vahid Aryanpur | €299,546 |
| IMUFF: Integrated Multi-model Multi-hazard Flood Forecasting | University of Galway | Dr. Indiana Olbert | €399,976 |
According to Met Éireann, the aim of the TRANSLATE-funded projects is to deepen Ireland’s knowledge of how climate change is influencing extreme weather events and to provide scientifically sound services that help inform planning and increase climate resilience at local and national levels.
The flood-focused IMUFF project will provide new insights into multi-hazard flood risk by examining the interactions between different hydrological and coastal processes.
Director of Met Éireann, Eoin Moran, welcomed the announcement and commended the selected institutions:
“On behalf of Met Éireann, I extend my sincere congratulations to University College Cork, Maynooth University and University of Galway.
We look forward to the significant advancements each institution will contribute to our collective understanding of weather, climate, and environmental systems,” he said.
He added that these projects will make a vital contribution to national and international efforts in tackling climate challenges and supporting environmental sustainability.
Climate services go beyond weather forecasting. They involve translating scientific data into actionable guidance for governments, businesses, and communities. These services:
Help identify risks related to floods, droughts, and heatwaves
Support early warning systems for disaster management
Inform planning for sectors like farming, transport, water management, and insurance
Assist local authorities in designing resilient infrastructure
As extreme weather becomes more frequent and damaging, demand for tailored, regional climate services is growing rapidly. The TRANSLATE programme’s research directly supports these needs by making climate data more accessible, usable, and relevant to decision-makers.
The funded projects are part of Met Éireann’s Weather and Climate Research Programme, which began in 2018 and aims to grow Ireland’s scientific capacity in weather and climate services through high-impact, collaborative research.
Met Éireann stated its ongoing support for innovation in climate science is key to helping Ireland prepare for, adapt to, and respond to the realities of a changing climate.
€2.8 million awarded to six university-led projects in 2024
Five projects fall under Met Éireann’s TRANSLATE climate services programme
One project focuses on improving multi-hazard flood forecasting
Projects led by University of Galway, University College Cork, and Maynooth University
Research aims to inform climate adaptation, risk assessment, and strategic planning
Met Éireann’s €2.8 million investment in climate and flood research marks a significant step in strengthening Ireland’s scientific response to the challenges of climate change and extreme weather. By supporting high-impact research at leading universities, the national forecaster is enhancing the country’s capacity to plan, adapt, and build greater resilience for the future.
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