Minister Kevin Moran announces approval for the submission of the Burnfoot Flood Relief Scheme for Planning Consent

Kevin “Boxer” Moran TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), announced today, 14 May 2026, that following OPW approval, Donegal County Council is submitting a planning application for the Burnfoot Flood Relief Scheme to An Coimisiún Pleanála for planning consent.

Minister Moran said “I am pleased to announce that following OPW approval, Donegal County Council is proceeding with a planning application for a flood relief scheme for Burnfoot and I wish to acknowledge the support from the community in Burnfoot that was valuable to inform the design of a scheme for its town, which will protect 49 properties including 41 residential properties and 8 commercial properties at risk from flooding.”

Burnfoot has a history of serious flooding. In 2017 up to 30 homes were flooded and at least seven local businesses were affected. The Burnfoot River exceeded its banks. Roads in the area were damaged and a local Wastewater Treatment Plant (WwTP) suffered considerable damage.

In July 2020, following the Government’s introduction of Flood Risk Management Plans, Donegal County Council with funding from the OPW, appointed Tetra Tech (formerly RPS) Engineering and Environmental Consultants to design a flood relief scheme for Burnfoot.

The scheme design for Burnfoot consists of the construction of flood defence walls, construction of embankments and culvert upgrades, bridge and road works along the Burnfoot River and the Carnashannagh Stream.

Today’s announcement is the outcome of very detailed engineering analysis, environmental assessments and engagement with the public on the sources of flooding from the Burnfoot River and the options to protect the town. Today’s announcement follows approval from the OPW for Donegal County Council to proceed to seek planning consent for the Burnfoot Flood Relief Scheme from An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Minister Moran concluded by highlighting that the Government is investing some €104m in flood risk management across Donegal and that Burnfoot is one of 12 flood relief schemes for the county.

The cost of these schemes will be met from the Government’s commitment to managing Ireland’s flood risk through the €1.3bn for flood relief measures set out in the National Development Plan. The design of this and all flood relief schemes is future proofed and is adaptable to meet the increasing flood risk from climate change.

For all media queries, please contact: OPW Press Office at pressoffice@opw.ie

Notes:

OPW flood schemes

• Flood relief schemes are implemented in five stages. They are large, complex, multiannual projects that face a variety of issues and challenges, many of which are neither predictable nor within the OPW’s control. These can include issues relating to ground conditions, timelines for consultations and planning decisions or a limited capacity within the engineering consultancy market. These challenges impact the timeline for flood relief schemes’ delivery, which can take up to ten years to design, develop and construct.
• The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme is the most in depth study ever undertaken on flood risk in Ireland. Completed in 2018, the programme studied flood risk for two-thirds of the population against their risk of flooding from rivers and the sea.
• This work underpins the OPW’s approach to designing and constructing flood relief schemes for communities most at-risk and is supported by €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan 2021–2030 (NDP).
• To date, 56 schemes have been completed, at a cost of some €580m. Over 13,580 properties are protected by these schemes providing an economic benefit estimated to be in the region of €2 billion.
• A full list of the completed schemes is here.
• Since 2018, the number of flood relief schemes at the design, planning, and construction stage has trebled to some 100 flood relief schemes. This is a result of the NDP investment that has enabled the OPW, in partnership with the local authorities, to progress this work.
• This means that the Government has completed or work is currently underway to protect 80% of properties at risk, based on the CFRAM Programme.
• At all times, the OPW strives to expedite and progress capital flood relief works with the minimum delay within the resources available to it.

A full list of schemes and further information is available on the www.floodinfo.ie website. All major schemes progressed since 2018 have individual websites. These provide relevant scheme information including timelines and budgets to the public.