The Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme is being led by Westmeath County Council with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Building on the option development work of the Shannon CFRAM (Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment & Management) Study, Westmeath County Council appointed Engineering Consultants in April 2017, to progress appropriate flood risk alleviation measures for Athlone. Following detailed option development, eight discrete cells of flood defence works were identified and six of these were progressed individually through Part 8 Planning by the Council. One cell did not require Planning approval, as the works were minor in nature, and one cell remains to be progressed to Part 10 Planning stage.
Construction of the Scheme is progressing well, despite Covid-19 restrictions and effects, and notwithstanding the high water levels that have hampered progress to some extent. The areas referred to in the Question are part of Flood Cells 1 and 2, as referenced in my reply to Parliamentary Question Nos. 191 and 192 of 17 February 2021. The current anticipated timeline for completion of these areas is Quarter 2, 2022 but the timeline is somewhat tentative, given the current Covid-19 situation and the continuing high water levels.
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Location
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Flood Cell
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Anticipated completion
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The Park, Parnell Square, Canal Walk, Canal Bank
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FC1 – Deerpark
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Q2 2022
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Friary Lane, Wolfe Tone Terrace, Griffin Street
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FC2 – The Strand
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Q2 2022
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Westmeath County Council, as the Contracting Authority, is responsible for public liaison and Councillors are updated by the Executive at regular meetings. Consultation on preliminary options developed under the Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management study (CFRAM) was undertaken by the Office of Public Work in 2015, and a further public consultation event was undertaken by the Council on the River Al flood cell in December, 2019.
The specific areas referred to in the Question were part of Flood cells No.1 and No.2, which were advanced by the Council through the Part 8 planning process. These were all publicly advertised and it was open to the public to make submissions. Any specific interaction with interested parties during the construction phase of the scheme falls within the remit of Westmeath County Council.
