Minister Patrick O'Donovan welcomes the appointment of Consultant Engineers to carry out design of the Drogheda and Baltray Flood Relief Scheme

Mr. Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), is delighted to announce that Louth County Council, in partnership with the OPW, has appointed RPS Consulting Engineers Ltd as Engineering Consultants to carry out the design of the Drogheda and Baltray Flood Relief Scheme.

The Drogheda and Baltray Flood Relief Scheme is being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, where the Government is providing an investment of €1 billion on flood relief over the next decade. When completed, these Schemes will afford protection to 249 residential and 205 non-residential properties from the 1-in-100-year flood event.

Making the announcement today, Minister O’Donovan stated:

“I am delighted that one year after appointing Consultant Engineers to carry out the design of the Dundalk, Blackrock South and Ardee Flood Relief Scheme, my Office and Louth County Council are now progressing a further important project in the County with the appointment of Consultants for the Drogheda and Baltray Flood Relief Scheme. This is an important investment for the two towns and the public will have the opportunity to engage with the schemes as they develop through extensive public consultation. I have no doubt that the OPW and the Council will continue to work closely together to bring this scheme to construction”.

Chief Executive of Louth County Council, Ms Joan Martin added:

“This is an important investment in flood defences for Drogheda Town and Baltray, the project will ultimately provide flood protection measures to properties and businesses in these areas and enhance the amenity value of one of the area’s greatest assets, the historic River Boyne. The project will further develop the hydrological, hydraulic and other assessments carried out for Drogheda & Baltray as part of the Eastern CFRAM Study and the Council will work closely with the OPW to bring this scheme to construction.

There will be a number of further public consultations, as the Project progresses through the Planning and Detailed Design all relevant Stakeholders will be fully consulted at the appropriate times”.

The proposed Flood Relief Scheme for Drogheda and Baltray consists of the construction of a series of hard defences, including flood embankments and walls along the River Boyne, improvement of conveyance, hard defences and a flow diversion channel on various tributaries, road raising and automated defences to allow continued operation of port activities.

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

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Notes to Editors:

Louth County Council, working with the OPW, has agreed to be the Lead Authority in the delivery of Flood Relief Scheme at Drogheda.
The proposed Flood Relief Scheme for Drogheda consists of the construction of a series of hard defences, including flood embankments and walls along the River Boyne, improvement of conveyance, hard defences and a flow diversion channel on various tributaries, road raising and automated defences to allow continued operation of port activities. This project is in the first tranche of projects to be progressed by Louth County Council within the 10-year timeframe for the programme of investment.
The Drogheda Scheme has a preliminary cost estimate of €34.9 Million (this also includes the budget for the Baltray Flood Relief Scheme) and will protect approximately 381 properties (183 residential and 198 non-residential properties) once complete.
A project Steering Group has been established, comprising of OPW personnel (administrative and technical) and Local Authority representatives, similar to the arrangements in place for the projects already being implemented under the existing Flood Relief Capital Works Programme.
The proposed Flood Relief Scheme at Baltray, Co. Louth, while initially not included in the first tranche of projects will also be progressed directly by Louth County Council in tandem with the Drogheda Scheme with full funding from the OPW, the cost of which is included in the budget for that Scheme. The work proposed will involve the construction of a series of hard defences (embankments and walls) protecting 73 properties (66 residential and 7 non-residential properties) when complete.