Written answers
Thursday, 3 April 2025
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Flood Relief Schemes
Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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164. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the flood relief schemes in progress or in planning for Kilkenny and Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15974/25]
Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch FRSThe Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme (GTFRS) commenced in March 2020. Ayesa (formerly Byrne Looby) were appointed as the engineering and environmental consultants. This scheme's design is very advanced and a Preferred Option for Graiguenamagh-Tinnahinch has been identified. This includes raised defences on the River Barrow along with raised defences and an upstream storage area on the River Duiske to prevent flooding. Where possible, new flood defence walls will replace existing walls throughout the scheme. These hard defences will protect properties from the 1% AEP (100 year) fluvial flood event. A total of 84 properties will be protected 31 Residential and 53 Commercial properties.
On the 23rd January, 2025 a non-statutory Public Display Day of the preferred option was held in Graiguenamanagh. It is currently programmed for Kilkenny County Council to submit the Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme for planning permission in Q3 of 2025.
Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme.
The Ballyhale FRS commenced in April 2020. DBFL were appointed as the engineering and environmental consultants. The Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme went for Planning in May, 2023. As part of the flood relief scheme two applications to An Bord Pleanala were required, a Section 177AE and Section 175 Planning Application and a Compulsory Purchase Order application.
There were a number of extensions to the date for a planning decision. Planning permission was granted with conditions on the 22 August, 2024.
This scheme will include the following measures:-
- Upstream embankments
- A new Channel will be created re-connecting all outlet barrels from the bridge into the western river branch and removing the flow split.
- Flood Defences will be created where required between the western channel and the properties at risk on Main St.
- The existing weir at the Ballyhale Business Park will be removed allowing the channel gradient to be increased along this section which increases capacity.
- A low wall is proposed alongside the road to prevent out of bank flows emerging onto the road surface.
- Minor works will be carried out at the existing Main St Bridge to improve inlet conditions.The above measures protect 28 properties, 20 residential and 8 commercial properties from the 1% AEP (100 year) fluvial event.
Tranche 2 Flood Relief Schemes
As part of the Flood Risk Management Plans some 50 schemes nationally were identified as Tranche 2 schemes. These tranche two schemes included Freshford, Piltown, Inistioge and Thomastown in County Kilkenny. Funding for these schemes will be provided under the Government’s flood risk investment programme of €1.3 billion under the National Development Plan to 2030.
Tranche 2 Pilot
On 2 May 2023, Mr. Patrick O’Donovan TD, then Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, announced that the OPW would pilot a new delivery model through four Tranche 2 flood relief schemes in Counties Donegal and Kilkenny. Specifically, the Pilot involves schemes for Freshford and Piltown in County Kilkenny, and Donegal Town and Letterkenny in County Donegal.
The Pilot will transfer the management of data gathering, as a first step in designing a scheme, from consultant engineers for a single scheme to the local authorities for all schemes in the Pilot and, where feasible, within their areas of responsibility. The pilot means that data gathering may be scaled up from individual communities to all schemes in a county. As well as bringing economies of scale, the gathered data can then better inform the prioritisation of schemes and the scope of services required from consultants to design and construct flood relief schemes.
Ultimately, the Pilot will inform the delivery model to be applied for the future tranche of schemes nationally and, in doing so, will be relevant to all schemes.
Kilkenny County Council are now at the stage of commencing surveying works for Freshford and Piltown.
Carlow Flood Relief Scheme
The OPW have carried out a Stage I Map Review for Carlow. The outcome of this review is a recommendation to proceed to a Stage II Map Review. The Stage II Map Review will include topographical survey, re-estimation of flood flows, and computer modelling to produce flood mapping. Stage II Map Review for Carlow is to be delivered by the Carlow Small Project (Scheme). OPW and Carlow County Council are currently discussing the progression of the Small Project.
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