Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

253. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if additional flood defences will be put in place at residential housing developments along Red Barns Road, Dundalk, County Louth which are at risk of both fluvial and coastal flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54312/17]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Office of Public Works (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities, involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each location, the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMP).

Dundalk and Blackrock South is an Area of Further Assessment under the CFRAM Programme and includes the area of Red Barns Road. The proposed Plan, which addresses the fluvial and coastal risk along Red Barns Road, consists of a series of hard defences, including; flood embankments and walls, rock armour coastal protection, demountable barriers, road raising and sluice gates. The proposed plan includes improvement of channel conveyance on the Blackrock River, together with flood attenuation on the Castletown River.

The FRMPs are currently subject to an independent review of the strategic level environmental assessments by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Once this independent review of all Plans is completed and observations addressed, I would hope in the coming weeks to seek the approval from the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for the Flood Risk Management Plans.