Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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To deliver the proposed measures set out in the Flood Risk Management Plans for County Louth, Louth County Council, working with the Office of Public Works, has agreed to be the Lead Authority in the delivery of flood relief schemes at Dundalk / Blackrock South, Drogheda, Carlingford / Greenore, Baltray and Ardee, all of which are in the first tranche of projects being progressed. The funding for these schemes has been allocated under the €1.3bn investment in flood relief under the National Development Plan to 2030.

The development of flood relief schemes, overseen by project Steering Groups with representatives meeting monthly from the OPW and Louth County Council, involves five distinct, sequential and related stages. The first stage involves assessing the flood risk and identifying options, followed by planning, detailed design, construction and maintenance. Public consultation forms part of each stage and project websites, available on floodinfo.ie, provide updates on each scheme’s progress.

The Dundalk/Blackrock South and Ardee projects are being progressed simultaneously. The tender for Engineering and Environmental Consultancy Services was awarded in 2020 to a joint venture between Binnies (formerly Black and Veatch) and Nicholas O‘Dwyer. The preliminary project cost estimate for these schemes is circa €80m and the proposed scheme will protect some 1,880 properties when completed. The scheme option for Dundalk/Blackrock South is expected in Q1 2024. The scheme option report for Ardee is currently being finalised and is expected to be completed in Q3 2023.

In relation to the Drogheda and Baltray schemes, the tender for Engineering and Environmental Consultancy Services was awarded to RPS Consulting Engineers Ltd in September 2021. The preliminary project cost estimate for these schemes is circa €35m and the proposed scheme will protect some 450 properties when completed. The scheme option is expected by the end of Q3 2024.

Consideration is being given as to how best to progress the Carlingford and Greenore schemes and the OPW will continue to liaise with Louth County Council.

Funding of just over €3.3 million has been provided to Louth County Council across these major schemes since 2018.

As well as funding for major flood relief schemes, additional funding of €1.8m has been approved for Louth County Council under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme since 2009.

While the CFRAM process investigated possible structural flood relief measures for both Annagassan and Termonfeckin, economically viable schemes for these communities were not identified, and so a review of the risk in these communities and the likely costs and benefits is to be undertaken. The Office of Public Works has put in place a process for undertaking such Scheme Viability Reviews (SVRs), including those for Annagassan and Termonfeckin. The purpose of the SVRs is to determine whether or not potential schemes should be taken forward to the full Flood Relief Scheme (FRS) project stages. Once the outcome of the SVR is known OPW will discuss the results with Louth County Council.