Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2025
681. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the Mountmellick flood relief scheme design will be complete; when it will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála for planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21284/25]
View answer682. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the finalised “additional report” regarding the Derrycloney part of the Mountmellick flood relief scheme will be made available to the local residents’ group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21285/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 681 and 682 together.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for leading and co-ordinating the implementation of Ireland’s national flood policy, which includes the development of a planned programme of feasible works for flood relief schemes.
In 2018, to facilitate the development of a programme of works, the OPW completed a strategic study - the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM programme resulted in the publication of 29 Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs), which identified and described the flood risk in various river basins (including the Barrow River Basin and the town of Mountmellick) and potentially viable flood relief works.
To facilitate the progression of potentially viable flood relief works in Mountmellick, Laois County Council (LCC) agreed, with the support of the OPW, to lead the further detailed assessment of the flood risk, design options and environmental assessments to support a planning application for a viable scheme. Additionally, LCC engaged the services of an engineering consultant to facilitate the progression of the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme.
The Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme is currently approaching the end of Stage 1 (Scheme Development and Preliminary Design) with the selection of a preferred option identified, which involves flood defences such as embankments, walls, culvert upgrades and a bridge replacement over the Owenass River. The preferred option was selected based on a range of criteria including economic, environmental and ecological impact, climate change adaptability and consideration of the feedback which arose during the public and stakeholder consultation process.
The scheme’s Option Report and Environmental Impact Assessment Report along with the other planning documents are now substantially complete. The OPW notes that it was previously envisaged that Stage 1 would be finalised by the scheme’s consultant prior to the end of 2024. However, due to scheme complexities further investigation and analysis was required and additional time is needed to facilitate Stage 1 completion. It is currently envisaged that Stage 1 will be completed prior to the end of Q2/Q3 2025 and a planning submission, subject to approval by the OPW, made to An Bord Pleanála prior to the end of Q3 2025.
An additional report to analyse local residents concerns is in the process of being completed, following a meeting between LCC, OPW and residents in Derrycloney in Q3 2024. The findings of the finalised report will be communicated to the residents concerned in advance of any planning application being submitted by LCC to An Bord Pleanála for the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme.
