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.
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
|
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
|