Written answers

Wednesday, 29 May 2019

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Flood Prevention Measures

Photo of Tom NevilleTom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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78. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the flood defences for Athea, County Limerick; and the location in Athea they will be carried out. [22988/19]

Photo of Kevin  MoranKevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Athea, Co. Limerick, was one of 300 areas that were believed to be at significant flood risk, and hence assessed as part of the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State. The CFRAM Programme culminated with the launch of 29 Flood Risk Management Plans on 3 May 2018, and proposed 118 new outline flood relief projects on top of the 42 major projects already completed and the 33 major schemes within the existing capital works programme of the Office of Public Works (OPW).

All of these projects are to be funded under the Government's 10 year flood risk investment programme of almost €1 billion under the National Development Plan 2018 – 2027.

As it is not possible to progress all 118 proposed new schemes at once, funding of €257 million was also announced for an initial phase of 50 flood relief projects throughout the country, to be progressed to detailed design and construction; including the five largest schemes identified in the Plans and 31 small, or minor projects (with an estimated preliminary project budget of under €1 million) which will be progressed directly by local authorities. The proposed flood relief scheme in Athea is included in the 31 small projects under €1 million, and is being progressed directly by Limerick City and County Council with full funding from the OPW.

Potentially viable flood relief works for Athea (to be implemented subject to project-level assessment) are likely to include construction of 160m of flood defence walls and construction of 150m of flood defence embankments. The exact location in Athea at which the defences will be built will be determined through detailed design and project level assessment. Accordingly Limerick City and County Council is currently running a tendering process for Engineering and Environmental Consultants for this project.

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