Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
159. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on the flood relief work planned by the OPW in the Bettystown and Mornington areas of County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47200/23]
View answerThere is an existing Flood Relief Scheme in place in Mornington, Co. Meath providing protection to 162 properties. The OPW has a programme of maintenance for this scheme.
After the recent flood event 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 now be required.
A number of meetings have taken place between the OPW, Meath County Council and the engineering consultants RPS who are currently involved in designing further defences for some of these locations.
The OPW instructed RPS to investigate both the cause and magnitude of the flooding events in Mornington in August of this year. 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 the design for those further flood relief defences currently proposed. Phase 1 of this report is currently being finalised.
A further meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday 26th October to review progress to date on the potential flood relief measures for Mornington/Bettystown
Northlands
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), and was substantially completed in Q1 of 2018.
There is currently a Steering Group in place with representatives from the Office of Public Works, Meath County Council and a design consultant to progress a design for a culvert upgrade as an extension to the Northlands Flood Relief Scheme.
