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Flood Risk Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2019

Tuesday, 15 October 2019

Ceisteanna (161)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

161. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made regarding the flood risk management for County Louth and east County Meath under CFRAM; the stage of each project; the expected dates of commencement and completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41691/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme was the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State and covered 300 areas believed to be at significant flood risk. The CFRAM programme culminated with the launch on 3 May 2018 of 29 Flood Risk Management Plans, which proposed 118 new outline flood relief projects, on top of the 42 major projects already completed and the 33 major schemes at planning, design or construction within the existing capital works programme of the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The flood relief schemes at Dundalk / Blackrock South, Drogheda, Carlingford / Greenore, Baltray and Ardee are in the first tranche of projects to be progressed by Louth County Council:

- The proposed flood relief scheme at Dundalk / Blackrock South, Co. Louth, for which the CFRAM Programme estimated a total preliminary cost of €40.54 million, would involve a series of hard defences, including flood embankments and walls, rock armour coastal protection, demountable barriers, road raising, a sluice gate and tanking of two properties, protecting 1,880 properties when completed.

- The proposed flood relief scheme at Drogheda, Co. Louth, for which the CFRAM Programme estimated a total preliminary cost of €16.83 million, would involve construction of a series of hard defences (flood embankments and walls) along the River Boyne and improvement of conveyance, hard defences and a flow diversion channel on various tributaries, protecting 381 properties when completed.

- The proposed flood relief scheme at Carlingford and Greenore, Co. Louth, for which the CFRAM Programme estimated a total preliminary cost of €23.41 million would involve construction of a series of hard defences (flood embankments and walls) and two pumping stations, protecting 409 properties when completed.

- The proposed flood relief scheme at Ardee, Co. Louth for which the CFRAM Programme estimated a total preliminary cost of €840,000 will also be progressed directly by Louth County Council with full funding from the OPW. The work proposed will involve the construction of a series of hard defences (embankments and walls) protecting 7 properties when completed.

- There is one proposed scheme initially not included in the first tranche of implementation. The scheme at Baltray, Co. Louth at a projected cost estimate of approximately €1.93 million would involve the construction of a series of hard defences (embankments and walls) protecting 73 properties when completed. However, the countywide project steering group comprising OPW and local authority representatives, has decided to progress this project simultaneously with Drogheda.

OPW has also established Engineering Consultancy Framework Agreements, which Louth County Council will be using to procure services to progress the design, development and planning of each project and which will help to speed up the process to construction. In addition, the Council has been provided with additional staffing resources by OPW to assist in the implementation of these schemes.

The Steering Group for flood relief schemes in County Louth has proposed the following prioritisation for progression of first tranche projects for County Louth:

1. Dundalk/Blackrock South and Ardee - to be progressed simultaneously.

2. Drogheda and Baltray - to be progressed simultaneously.

3. Carlingford/Greenore

The Steering Group last met on 9 October 2019 where the tender documents for the appointment of consultants for Dundalk/Blackrock South & Ardee were formally signed off. Louth County Council are expected to tender for environmental and design consultants for the Dundalk/Blackrock South and Ardee Flood Relief Schemes in the coming weeks with a proposed tender return date of January 2020. Work will commence on tender documentation for engineering consultants to progress the Drogheda and Baltray schemes shortly thereafter.

It is important to note that the measures set out in the flood risk management plans are not definitive and final, and that as part of the project-level assessment required to prepare the measure for planning/ Public Exhibition, more detailed assessments are required at a local level and further public and stakeholder consultation will be undertaken. As such, there is further scope for the community's views to influence the measures that are progressed to implementation.

In County Meath, the proposed flood relief scheme at Mornington, with an estimated cost of approximately €530,000, will be progressed directly by Meath County Council with full funding from the OPW. The work proposed will involve the construction of a series of hard defences (embankments and walls) protecting 51 properties when completed.

Once consultants are appointed to progress each scheme, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the general public, will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of the proposals within the scheme.

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