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. (It did not study flood risk from storm water capacity, which is a matter for the local authorities) 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 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.

At all times, the OPW strives to expedite and progress capital flood relief works with the minimum delay within the resources available to it. A Steering Group for each major scheme is in place that meets monthly typically to review progress, risks and programme. Delays against profiled programme can occur due to a variety of constraints and factors including:

• demand in the market for surveys. Any flood relief scheme needs to map and understand the location and the flooding sources and constraints. This is achieved by extensive and wide-ranging surveys to understand the topography, hydrology and environment of a community.
• extended timeframe against profiled time to obtain planning decisions, as well as non-programmed time for managing judicial reviews to those decisions. While this is part of the natural process, it can cause a delay in starting announced works in a community.
• designing flood relief is a very specialised area of engineering. As a result, the scale of programme delivery is at times limited by the resources available.

Delays to a profiled programme can extend the targeted timeframe required to deliver a completed flood relief scheme to a community. As well as through strong project management, by means of Steering Group structures, local authorities will, where it is feasible, bring forward advance works or some minor works, prior to the main scheme being completed. These can be funded by the OPW and can mitigate the impact from a flood event.

Cork County Council is leading on a flood relief scheme for Midleton. An option for a flood relief scheme for Midleton to protect some 580 properties, including 400 homes, has emerged following extensive analysis and engagement. The scheme will provide protection against flooding from the Dungourney and Owenacurra Rivers. The Environmental Impact Assessment Report is being prepared for this preferred option. The current programme for this scheme is that the planning process will commence in 2024.

Table 1 below provides a list of the 68 major flood relief schemes, including the current status of the scheme. Table 2 provides information for the 30 small projects, which are led by the Local Authorities with funding from OPW.

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

Table 2. Small Projects & their respective stages

Scheme	County	Stage/Gateway
Ardee Flood Relief Scheme	Louth	Pre-Planning
Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme	Kilkenny	Pre-Planning
Kerrykeel (Carrowkeel) Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Pre-Planning
Westport (Cois Abhainn & Ashwood) Flood Relief Scheme	Mayo	Completion
Athea Flood Relief Scheme	Limerick	Commencement
Avoca Flood Relief Scheme	Wicklow	Commencement
Bogganfin Flood Defence Scheme	Roscommon	Commencement
Clifden Flood Relief Scheme	Galway	Commencement
Clonaslee Flood Relief Scheme	Laois	Commencement
Glenties Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Commencement
Holycross Flood Relief Scheme	Tipperary	Commencement
Killaloe/Ballina Flood Relief Scheme	Tipperary	Commencement
Knocklofty Flood Relief Scheme	Tipperary	Commencement
Leitrim Village Flood Relief Scheme	Leitrim	Commencement
Longford Flood Relief Scheme	Longford	Commencement
Mornington Flood Relief Scheme Augmentation	Meath	Commencement
Na Dúnaibh (Downings) Flood Relief Scheme	Donegal	Commencement
Rathbraghan Flood Relief Scheme	Sligo	Commencement
Abbeydorney Flood Relief Scheme	Kerry	Business Case
Aglish Flood Relief Scheme	Waterford	Business Case
Ballyduff Flood Relief Scheme	Waterford	Business Case
Banna Flood Relief Scheme	Kerry	Business Case
Bunratty Flood Relief Scheme	Clare	Business Case
Carlow Flood Relief Scheme	Carlow	Business Case
Golden Flood Relief Scheme	Tipperary	Business Case
Kilrush Flood Relief Scheme	Clare	Business Case
Leixlip Scheme	Kildare	Business Case
Mohill Flood Relief Scheme	Leitrim	Business Case
Rahan Flood Relief Scheme	Offaly	Business Case
Rathkeale Flood Relief Scheme	Limerick	Business Case