Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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There is a history of flooding in the Morell catchment since the early 1990s. Considerable flooding occurred in 1998, 2000, 2008, 2009 and 2010 causing significant damage to homes, farms, businesses and flooding of roads, including the N7. In recent years, the severity and frequency of the flood events have resulted in severe hardship for residents and business owners.

The Morell River Flood Relief Scheme includes embankments and flood defence walls along the Morell and Painestown rivers and is expected to provide protection against a 100-year flood event (1% Annual Exceedance Probability) for 30 properties, the M7 motorway, with an additional 60 plus properties being positively affected by the scheme.

Kildare County Council (KCC), in consultation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), engaged consulting engineers to carry out a Full Feasibility Study, Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Lower Morell River and the surrounding river catchment in order to resolve the outstanding localised flooding issues in the Straffan area. A Steering Group which comprises representatives of KCC, OPW and the consultants, was set up to advance the project. Planning for the Scheme was granted in April 2018 by An Bord Pleanála (ABP).

Construction began on 1st September 2020 and construction works are being undertaken by OPW East Region Construction team. I can confirm some 58% of the construction works are now complete and a design change at Killeen Golf club was approved by ABP in November 2023 and works have commenced at Killeen Golf Club. Further works to be carried out include the construction and completion of flood defence embankments and walls, and the remediation of an existing flood defence embankment in the following townlands: Turnings, Killeenmore, Painestown, Baronrath and Sherlockstown Common.

The consultants have a full understanding of the flow regime in heavy rainfall events and have strategically advised on the sequencing in which works should be carried out, to ensure no consequential up stream additional properties are put at risk from flooding during such events.

Completed works are in the process of being handed back to Kildare County Council. The Scheme is programmed for completion by Q4 2025.

Further information can be found on the schemes website www.morellfms.ie.