Minister O'Donovan welcomes progession of Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme to planning stage

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Patrick O’Donovan T.D., today welcomed the news that Kilkenny County Council has progressed the Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme to the next stage – planning – following the development and identification of a preferred scheme. Stage 2 is now underway with a planning application expected to be submitted later this year.

Minister O’Donovan said:

“I am pleased that, following the completion of the scheme development and preliminary design, this project has now progressed to the next stage. Once completed, the Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme will protect 24 homes and 9 commercial properties. The Government has allocated significant funding for flood relief under the National Development Plan, but it is really important that our response to flooding is robustly designed and incorporates the views of the community it is designed to protect. I therefore want to thank all stakeholders and members of the community who took the time over the past months to input into the development of what has emerged as the preferred scheme for Ballyhale.”

As part of the Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme completed by the OPW in 2018, Ballyhale was identified as one of 300 areas believed to be at significant flood risk. The South Eastern CFRAM Study recommended a diversion of flow and hard defences as a feasible flood relief option for Ballyhale. In November 2018, the OPW gave approval for Kilkenny County Council to proceed with the implementation of a flood relief scheme for Ballyhale. The Council subsequently appointed DBFL Engineering & Environmental Consultants on 23 March 2020 to develop and design this scheme.

During stage 1 of the process, DBFL Engineering & Environmental Consultants carried out a review of the flood protection measures identified under the CFRAM Programme, bringing them to outline design, along with a review of costs and benefits. As part of the Options Assessment/Multi-Criteria Assessment, a range of flood relief options were developed and considered. Public and stakeholder consultations took place in May-June 2020 and again in July-August 2021, as the preferred option emerged. Information gathered through online gatherings, presentations and consultation events undertaken via Consult.Kilkenny.ie – such as first-hand accounts of past flood events as well as photos of these events – informed the design process of the flood scheme and helped to shape the flood scheme.

Four preliminary options were identified by the consultant engineers and presented to the Council and the OPW in the Options Report, with the preferred option advancing to planning. This scheme will provide embankments and conveyance improvements through flow diversion from the Ballyhale watercourse to the Little Arrigle River.

ENDS

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