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 (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, 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 and progression of flood relief schemes is overseen by project Steering Groups with representatives, meeting typically monthly, from the OPW and Louth County Council and the consultant engineers. Delivering a flood relief scheme involves five distinct, sequential and related stages. Aligned to the decision gateways of the Public Spending Code these are assessing the flood risk and identifying options; seeking planning consent, detailed design, construction and maintenance. Public consultation forms part of each stage and project websites, available on floodinfo.ie provides updates on each scheme’s progress.

The Dundalk/Blackrock South and Ardee projects are being progressed simultaneously and engineering and environmental consultants were appointed in 2020. The proposed scheme will protect some 1,880 properties when completed. The scheme option for Dundalk/Blackrock South is expected in Q3 2024 and Ardee is currently at options review.

Consultants for the Drogheda and Baltray flood relief schemes were appointed in September 2021. The proposed scheme will protect some 454 properties when completed. The scheme option is expected in Q4 2024.

The OPW established a working group on Carlingford and Greenore that is focused on ensuring that all approaches for implementation are considered from a technical perspective and to propose the best method to proceed. OPW met with Louth County Council engineers on 9th October 2023 to review the work completed to date and to plan for the project going forward. This included scoping requirements and data collection. I visited Louth following the recent flooding events and saw at first hand the devastation that flooding caused in this area. Drone footage was captured and surveying of the impacted area arranged. The OPW met with Louth County Council in November to assess the flood mechanisms and damages from the event and work is continuing on the flood event report, surveys and scoping for the proposed flood relief scheme. Further meetings are scheduled in December 2023 and January 2024 between Louth County Council and the OPW to progress the project.

While the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme investigated possible structural flood relief measures for both Annagassan and Termonfeckin, economically viable schemes for these communities were not identified. The OPW is reviewing the flood risk in these communities.

The OPW since 2009, has approved €1.9m for 32 local flood projects under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to Louth County Council.

In east Meath, the Mornington Flood Relief Scheme (FRS), consented to under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, was substantially completed in 2013, providing protection to 162 properties. This flood relief scheme has a design standard of 0.5% AEP coastal event and 1% AEP fluvial flood event. The OPW directly managed the construction and funded the development of the flood defences. The Mornington FRS is maintained annually by the OPW East Region Drainage Maintenance Section. Maintenance involves silt and vegetation removal from circa 3km of channel, and vegetation management on circa 5km of embankment. Maintenance in generally carried out in Q4 of each year.

The Catchment Flood Risk Management Programme (CFRAM) proposed a further flood relief scheme for Mornington to augment the existing scheme. The proposed further measures for Mornington that may be implemented after project-level assessment and planning or exhibition and confirmation may include physical works such as a series of hard defences (flood embankments and walls). These works would complement the existing flood scheme already completed. The hard defences would protect to the 1% AEP fluvial flood event and to the 0.5% AEP coastal flood event.

There is currently a group in place with representatives from the OPW and Meath County Council to progress the development of further works for the Mornington/Bettystown area. There are a number of projects in this area that are currently being considered in addition to the CFRAM proposals and the group is assessing the best approach to delivering these projects. This includes the installation of a permanent pumping station in the Dunes Estate, flood defences in the Villages and a culvert upgrade required for the Northlands Flood Relief Scheme. It is intended that the pumping station and culvert upgrade will be completed next year, the appropriate planning and design development route for the other works is currently under consideration.