Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme – Ireland’s largest study of flood risk – was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two-thirds of the population against their risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. An output of the CFRAM Programme, the Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans provide the evidence for a proactive approach for designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities. The delivery of these Plans is supported by €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan 2021–2030 (NDP).

This investment has allowed the OPW to treble the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning, and construction to some 100 schemes. To date, 53 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 12,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €1.9 billion. Consequently, work to protect 80% of all at-risk properties nationally is completed or underway.

Major flood relief schemes involve complex engineering and construction operations that can impact on people's living, built and natural environment and, therefore, require lengthy planning and decision lead-in times.

The process follows a number of stages from feasibility through design, planning, detailed design and construction. It is important that the work is done correctly and achieves its objectives. Extensive and detailed technical analysis is required to establish the most appropriate solution, technically and environmentally, from a range of possible mitigation options. The solution has also to be adaptable to the increased risk from climate change.

Extensive public consultation is required at various stages to ensure that those affected by a scheme have the opportunity to input into its design and implementation. Ecological and archaeological issues often require in-depth analysis in order to ensure that the technical solution selected will meet the requirements of existing EU and national environmental legislation.

Schemes currently being delivered have been prioritised as Tranche I schemes. Also included in these active schemes are four Tranche II Pilot projects. The pilot, which I announced in May 2023, is in response to engagement between OPW and local authorities to agree a planned national approach to future schemes that matches return on investment from the available capacity in the local authorities and OPW. Consequently, a new delivery model for flood relief schemes is being piloted which will better inform the future Tranche II schemes' delivery.

There are also some 30 Small Projects currently being implemented by their respective local authorities with funding being provided by the Office of Public Works. Of these, the scheme at Westport (Cois Abhainn & Ashwood) recently completed construction.

A breakdown of all active major flood relief schemes, and their respective delivery stages, is provided in Table 1.

There are 52 schemes at early stages of development, which are described as Business Case Stage and Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design. Some significant flood relief schemes at Stage I include: Enniscorthy; Limerick City & Environs; Dundalk & Ardee; and Midleton. In relation to Enniscorthy, in March 2022, the then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, made a decision to refuse the Enniscorthy Flood Defence Scheme under Section 7E(1)(b) of the Arterial Drainage Acts. Since then, Wexford County Council, as contracting authority, has engaged consultants to review alternative options for a flood relief scheme for Enniscorthy.

There are three schemes at Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation. These schemes are Bride River (Blackpool); Lower Lee (Cork City); and Raphoe.

Once schemes receive planning permission, work can begin on the next stage, which is where the detailed design of flood relief schemes is undertaken. There are six flood relief schemes at Stage III: Detailed Design. These schemes are: Arklow (Avoca River); Crossmolina; Dublin City (River Wad); King’s Island; Morrison’s Island; and Poddle River. Pending successful construction procurement processes and planning consent, it is anticipated that a number of these schemes will commence construction in 2024.

At Stage IV: Implementation/Construction, there are currently seven major flood relief schemes, four of which are anticipated to be complete within the next 12 months. It is expected that the Dodder Phase 2 scheme will be completed before the end of 2023 and Athlone, Templemore and Springfield flood relief schemes are expected to complete in 2024.

In addition to the active flood relief schemes noted above, the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme provides funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation or coastal protection works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. This scheme provides 90% funding to local authorities to manage localised flood risk.

Information on the status of flood relief schemes and data on Minor Works is available at www.floodinfo.ie.

Table 1. Major Flood Relief Schemes & their respective stages

Scheme	County	Status
Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme	Westmeath	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Dodder Phase 2C, 2D, 2E Flood Relief Scheme	Dublin	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Glashaboy (Glanmire / Sallybrook) Flood Relief Scheme	Cork	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Morell River Flood Management Scheme	Kildare	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
River Mall (Templemore) Flood Relief Scheme	Tipperary	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Springfield Flood Relief Scheme	Clare	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Whitechurch Stream Flood Alleviation Scheme	Dublin	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Arklow (Avoca River) Flood Relief Scheme	Wicklow	Stage III: Detailed Design
Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme	Mayo	Stage III: Detailed Design
Dublin City (River Wad - Phase 1B) Flood Relief Scheme	Dublin	Stage III: Detailed Design
Kings Island Flood Relief Scheme	Limerick	Stage III: Detailed Design
Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project, Cork	Cork	Stage III: Detailed Design
Poddle River Flood Alleviation Scheme	Dublin	Stage III: Detailed Design
Bride River (Blackpool) Flood Relief Scheme	Cork	Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation
Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme	Cork	Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation
Raphoe Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation
Adare Flood Relief Scheme	Limerick	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Athy Flood Relief Scheme	Kildare	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Ballina Flood Relief Scheme	Mayo	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Ballinasloe Flood Relief Scheme	Galway	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Ballybofey - Stranorlar Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Ballymakeery/Ballyvourney Flood Relief Scheme	Cork	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Baltray Flood Relief Scheme	Louth	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Bantry Flood Relief Scheme	Cork	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Buncrana - Luddan Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Burnfoot Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Camac River Flood Alleviation Scheme	Dublin	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Carrick on Shannon Flood Relief Scheme	Leitrim	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Castleconnell Flood Relief Scheme	Limerick	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Castlefinn Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme	Cavan	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Dodder Phase 3 (Clonskeagh Road Bridge to Orwell Road Bridge) Flood Relief Scheme	Dublin	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Drogheda Flood Relief Scheme	Louth, Meath	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Dundalk and Ardee Flood Relief Schemes	Louth	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme	Wexford	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Galway City Flood Relief Scheme	Galway	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme	Kilkenny	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Kenmare Flood Relief Scheme	Kerry	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme	Clare	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Lifford Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Limerick City & Environs Flood Relief Scheme	Limerick	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Loughlinstown Flood Relief Scheme	Dublin	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Marlfield Lake Flood Relief Scheme	Tipperary	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Midleton Flood Relief Scheme	Cork	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme	Laois	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Naas Flood Relief Scheme	Kildare	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Portarlington Flood Relief Scheme	Laois	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Ramelton Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Rosslare, Co, Wexford	Wexford	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme	Clare	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
South Galway (Gort Lowlands) Flood Relief Scheme	Galway	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Tralee Flood Relief Scheme	Kerry	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Wexford Flood Relief Scheme	Wexford	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Ballinhassig Flood Relief Scheme	Cork	Business Case
Carlingford & Greenore Flood Relief Scheme	Louth	Business Case
Carrigaline Flood Relief Scheme	Cork	Business Case
Donegal Town Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Business Case
Freshford Flood Relief Scheme	Kilkenny	Business Case
Letterkenny Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Business Case
Lough Funshinagh Flood Relief Scheme	Roscommon	Business Case
Macroom Flood Relief Scheme	Cork	Business Case
Malahide Flood Relief Scheme	Dublin	Business Case
Nenagh Flood Relief Scheme	Tipperary	Business Case
Piltown Flood Relief Scheme	Kilkenny	Business Case
Portmarnock (Strand Road) Flood Relief Scheme	Dublin	Business Case
Sandymount (Phase 1 & 2) Flood Relief Scheme	Dublin	Business Case
Sandymount (Phase 2) Flood Relief Scheme	Dublin	Business Case
Skerries (Mill Stream) Flood Relief Scheme	Dublin	Business Case