Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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344. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management programme interventions the OPW plans to take in relation to mitigating flooding risks in Bettystown and Mornington in East Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51248/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management CFRAM Programme proposed a further flood relief scheme for Mornington. These works would have complemented the existing flood scheme already completed. The hard defences would protect against a 1% AEP fluvial flood event and against a 0.5% AEP coastal flood event.

After the August and October 2023 flood events in the Mornington/Bettystown area a senior level group involving the OPW and Meath County Council was established to review the event and any additional measures in the Mornington/Bettystown area that may be required.

The OPW instructed consultants RPS to investigate both the cause and magnitude of the flooding events in Mornington/Bettystown in August and October of 2023. This investigation will inform any appropriate short term measures that can be taken to manage the flood risk in this area and in the longer term will inform the design of any further proposed flood defences. This work is now complete and the final report is with the OPW and Meath County Council for consideration. The appropriate planning and design development route for these works is also currently under consideration.

The senior group with representatives from the OPW and Meath County Council are also engaged in the development of current works for the Mornington/Bettystown area. There are a number of projects in this area that are currently underway in addition to the CFRAM proposals. These are the installation of a permanent pumping station in the Dunes estate and a culvert upgrade required for the Northlands Flood Relief Scheme. It is intended that the pumping station will be completed next year and the culvert upgrade will be completed this year.

Annual maintenance by Meath County Council on the drainage district channels adjacent to the Village estate is also due to take place ahead of the winter months and OPW are also undertaking annual maintenance on the Mornington Flood Relief Scheme. The OPW will also undertake annual maintenance of the Northlands Flood Relief Scheme on behalf of Meath County Council.

Mornington Flood Relief Scheme

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 flood 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 is generally carried out in Q4 of each year.

Northlands Flood Relief Scheme

The Northlands Flood Relief Scheme commenced in November, 2016. Construction of this scheme, consisted of in-situ reinforced concrete walls and precast concrete “U-channels”, and was carried out by the OPW (direct works) on behalf of Meath County Council, and was substantially completed in Q1 of 2018.

A Steering Group with representatives from the Office of Public Works, Meath County Council and the design consultant was established to progress a design for a culvert upgrade as an extension to the Northlands Flood Relief Scheme.