Policy information

Arterial Drainage

From: Office of Public Works
Published on: 26 September 2024
Last updated on: 12 June 2025

Arterial Drainage - Information to Follow

The OPW carried out a number of Arterial Drainage Schemes on catchments under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. Under section 37 of the 1945 Act, the OPW is required to maintain drainage works in proper repair and effective condition. This work is organised on a regional basis, with headquarters in Limerick, Headford, Co. Galway and Trim, Co. Meath.

A list of the major completed Arterial Drainage Schemes carried out by OPW can be found below.

Scheme	Counties	Duration of Works	Benefitting Area (Acres)
Brosna	Offaly, Westmeath, Laois	1948 - 55	86,200
Glyde and Dee	Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Cavan	1950 - 57	26,300
Feale	Kerry	1951 - 59	26,500
Corrib-Clare	Galway, Mayo, Roscommon	1954 - 64	74,900
Owenogarney	Clare	1955 - 59	2,100
Nenagh	Tipperary, Offaly	1955 - 60	6,500
Deel and Swillyburn	Donegal	1957 - 61	3,500
Shannon	Clare	1958 - 60	1,800
Ballyteigue / Kilmore	Wexford	1959 - 61	2,300
Maine	Kerry	1959 - 63	11,600
Fergus	Clare	1959 - 63	5,400
Inny	Westmeath, Longford, Meath, Cavan	1960 - 68	50,000
Moy	Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon	1960 - 71	61,000
Broadmeadow and Ward	Meath, Dublin	1961 - 64	7,400
Swilly, etc.	Donegal	1961 - 68	3,200
Killimor / Cappagh	Galway	1962 - 68	12,600
Deel	Limerick, Cork	1962 - 68	50,000
Shannon	Limerick	1962 - 71	12,100
Duff	Leitrim, Sligo	1963 - 65	3,600
Corrib-Headford	Galway, Mayo	1967 - 73	19,400
Owenavarragh	Wexford	1968 - 70	2,600
Carrigahorrig	Tipperary, Offaly	1968 - 71	3,800
Boyne	Meath, Westmeath, Louth, Cavan, Kildare, Offaly	1969 - 86	119,000
Groody	Limerick	1970 - 73	3,000
Maigue	Limerick, Tipperary, Cork	1973 - 86	30,500
Corrib-Mask-Robe	Mayo, Galway	1979 - 86	24,000
Boyle	Roscommon, Sligo, Mayo	1982 - 92	26,800
Bonet	Leitrim, Sligo	1982 - 92	3,200
Monaghan Blackwater	Monaghan	1984 - 92	5,850
-	-	Total	647,050

An online map of the country with detailed information on the location of OPW Arterial Schemes can be found on floodinfo.ie

Drainage Districts, which are the responsibility of Local Authorities to maintain, are also shown on the map.

Drainage Map

Arterial Drainage

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