Press release
Public Consultation Day No. 2 on Athea Flood Relief Scheme, Co. Limerick
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The second Public Consultation Day for the Athea Flood Relief Scheme will commence on Wednesday, 21 February 2024, from 5pm to 8pm in the Con Colbert Community Hall, Athea, Co. Limerick to present the emerging technically viable option for the Athea Flood Relief Scheme. This follows on from feedback received at the previous initial public consultation event, which was held in June 2020.
A separate briefing for elected members will be held from 2.30pm to 3.15pm in the Limerick City and County Council Newcastle West Area Office on the same day.
The scheme has considered an extensive list of potential flood management measures and the purpose of the Public Participation Day is to provide interested parties with an overview of the emerging technically viable option and an opportunity to engage with the project team and share feedback.
Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Patrick O’Donovan T.D., states
“I am pleased to announce that the Athea Flood Relief Scheme has progressed significantly since the initial Public Consultation Day that was held back in June 2020. The project team assessed a number of viable options and have identified an Emerging Preferred Scheme for the Athea FRS. Measures are proposed which will address flooding from the River Galey, and also two local tributaries, namely the Athea West and East Streams, where flood risk is associated with a number of culverts. I welcome this progress and would like to thank all stakeholders and members of the community who took the time to input into the consultation process for the preferred scheme for Athea.”
You can voice your views at the Public Participation Day or by writing to the address below, giving your comments. Alternatively, a questionnaire can be found on the project website. The questionnaires can be returned using drop boxes provided at the Public Participation Event or emailed to atheafrs@ryanhanley.ie . Please return your information and questionnaires by Wednesday 6th March 2024.
Project information leaflets are being delivered to businesses and households in Athea and the OPW and Limerick County Council are encouraging members of the public and interested parties to engage with this consultation period.
Additional event and contact information is available through the Project Website at: https://www.limerick.ie/council/services/water-and-drainage/flooding-related-schemes-and-assistance/athea-flood-relief
Address: Ryan Hanley Ltd, 1 Galway Business Park, Dangan, Galway, H91 A3EF
For further information, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie
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• 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, 55 schemes have been completed, at a cost of over €570m. Over 13,000 properties are protected by these schemes providing an economic benefit estimated to be in the region of €1.9 billion.
• A full list of the completed schemes is here
o Appendix A provides details of the 11 schemes that have reached substantial completion since the CFRAM launch in 2018.
• 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.
o Appendix B lists the schemes that are currently in construction.
• This means that the Government has completed or work is currently underway to protect 80% of properties at risk, based on the CFRAM Programme.
• In addition to progressing flood relief schemes, the OPW has invested €63m across some 900 unique local flood relief projects that protect some 7,800 properties through the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
• 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 . All major schemes progressed since 2018 also have individual websites. These provide relevant scheme information including timelines and budgets to the public.