Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Through the CFRAM, programme, detailed engineering analysis, assessment and extensive public consultation was undertaken for 300 communities throughout the country, including 90 coastal areas, that were identified as the most likely to be impacted by future coastal and fluvial flooding. One key output of the CFRAM programme is the flood risk management plans, FRMPs, that contain proposed flood relief measures informed by preliminary costs, benefits and environmental factors to address the flood risk in each community and nationwide.

The evidence provided by the CFRAM programme launched in May 2018 supports the Government’s €1 billion programme out to 2040. As part of this, Louth County Council, working with the Office of Public Works, OPW, has agreed to be the lead authority in the delivery of flood relief schemes at Dundalk, Blackrock south, Drogheda, Carlingford, Greenore, Baltray and Ardee. The OPW has agreed to provide funding for a senior executive engineer, two executive engineers, an administrative officer and a technician at grade 1 level. These appointments have taken place and all expenditure associated with the appointments listed have been recouped in full by Louth County Council, in accordance with procedures in line with the public spending code.

The proposed flood relief scheme at Dundalk and Blackrock south includes the Ardee flood relief scheme and will protect some 1,880 properties when completed, while the scheme at Drogheda and Baltray will protect some 450 and the scheme at Carlingford and Greenore will protect 409 properties.

Although the CFRAM process investigated possible structural flood relief measures for both Annagassan and Termonfeckin, economically viable schemes for these communities were not identified. As such, a review of the risk in these communities and the likely costs and benefits is to be undertaken. The OPW has put in place a process for undertaking such reviews and it is envisaged that the reviews, including those for Annagassan and Termonfeckin, will be completed within the next 12 months.

The contract for engineering consultancy services was awarded in 2020 to Binnies and Nicholas O'Dwyer as a joint venture for the Dundalk, Blackrock south and Ardee projects and they are being progressed simultaneously.,

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