Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
462. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding flood risk works in County Limerick; if he is satisfied that works in the county scheduled for 2021 are on track for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39532/21]
View answerWorks on four flood relief schemes are taking place in or near County Limerick in 2021 and works to design and commence works on seven flood relief schemes are being significantly advanced during 2021.
Three of the works taking place this year by Limerick City and County Council are being funded by the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Protection Scheme. This scheme provides funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies, costing less than €0.75 million each, to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.
Under this scheme the OPW has approved three applications for Limerick in 2021 with target commencement dates as follows:-
Ballinatona, Galbally - €22,848 approved on the 11 March, 2021, for drainage channel clearance works on watercourse which discharges to the OPW maintained River Aherlow and drainage improvement works. Works are planned for September / October 2021.
Bosnetstown, Kilfinnane - €48,915 approved on the 11 March, 2021, for drainage channel clearance works including minor construction of a small flood bund/embankment at two locations. Works are planned for September 2021.
Gotoon, Kilmallock - €15,705 approved on the 11 March, 2021, for drainage clearance works, surface water drainage improvements and resurfacing of damaged road surface due to previous overland flow/flood event. Works are ongoing with an estimated completed date end of September 2021.
On the fourth scheme construction of the Springfield Flood Relief Scheme, bordering Limerick is expected to commence in early August. This scheme involves the construction of flood protection works at the townlands of Springfield, Cappavilla North, Cottage and Illaunyregan, Clonlara and are expected to be substantially complete in 2022.
The OPW’s Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme, the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State, culminated with the launch of 29 Flood Risk Management Plans on 3 May 2018. These Plans proposed 118 new outline flood relief projects. They included a recommendation to progress the project-level development and planning of Flood Relief Schemes for Limerick through the following five stages involved in the development and construction of a flood relief scheme:
Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Stage II: Planning process
Stage III: Detailed Design, Confirmation and Tender
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Stage V: Handover of Works
While there are currently no major flood relief schemes at construction (Stage IV) in County Limerick, there is significant work underway designing a number of viable schemes, as part of the Government's €1bn capital investment in flood relief works as part of the National Development Plan 2018 - 2027. This work is being led by Limerick City and County Council, as contracting authority, in partnership with the OPW, and has appointed a number of consultant engineering and environmental consultants to progress schemes.
The table below outlines the current stage of development for Flood Relief Schemes for County Limerick.
|
Flood Relief Scheme |
Date Consultant Appointed |
Stage |
|
Flood Relief Scheme |
Date Consultant Appointed |
Stage |
|
Limerick City & Environs |
3rd May, 2021 |
Stage 1 |
|
Kings Island |
18 August, 2015 |
Stage 2 |
|
Castleconnell |
17 July, 2019 |
Stage 1 |
|
Athea |
24 October, 2019 |
Stage 1 |
|
Adare |
Expected August/September 2021 |
Preliminary design expected to commence August/ September 2021 |
|
Rathkeale |
Brief for preliminary design being developed |
Stage 1 |
The seventh scheme where design of works are being advanced during 2021 relates to OPW approved funding of €45,720 on 11 May 2021 for works at Bresheen South, Kilmallock under its Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Protection Scheme. These works to replace culverts and construct a drainage channel are planned to be undertaken in 2022.
