Minister O’Donnell TD announces approval for Flood Relief Scheme for Castleconnell, Limerick to be submitted for Planning Consent
- Foilsithe: 1 Samhain 2024
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Kieran O’Donnell TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) announced today, (1 November 2024) that his Office has given the approval for Limerick City & County Council to submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála shortly for a much needed flood relief scheme for Castleconnell.
Minister O’Donnell said:
As Minister for the Office of Public Works, I am pleased to announce the approval for Limerick City & County Council to proceed shortly with a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for a flood relief scheme for Castleconnell. I wish to acknowledge the support from the Castleconnell community that was valuable to inform the design of a scheme for its town, which will protect the 50 properties including 35 residential and families at risk from flooding, together with 15 commercial properties and businesses.
In 2018, following the Government’s introduction of Flood Risk Management Plans, Limerick City & County Council, with funding from the OPW, appointed JBA engineering and environmental consultants to design a flood relief scheme for Castleconnell.
The scheme design for Castleconnell includes flood walls at the rear of the northern properties and the rear of Mall House, a new set-back flood wall along the Mall Road and a flood wall alongside Maher’s Pub car park. There will be road raising and a flood gate across Island House entrance and an embankment is to be constructed from Meadowbrook Estate to Stormont House. The scheme’s design also includes a demountable barrier across Chapel Hill Road along with road raising and an embankment to the rear of Coolbane Woods.
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 River Shannon and the Cedarwood Stream in Castleconnell, and the options to protect the town.
Minister O’Donnell concluded:
There are currently 4 flood relief schemes at different stages of progression in County Limerick. The King’s Island Flood Relief Schemes is due to commence construction in November with a construction cost of €32m (excl. VAT). The Limerick City & Environs Flood Relief Scheme has commenced optioneering to identify a preferred and viable design. The Adare and Athea Flood Relief Schemes have each identified an emerging preferred design option and are programmed to go to planning in 2025.
The Government is investing some €137m to manage the flood risk across County Limerick.
In addition to these major schemes, the OPW has approved €3.2m to Limerick City & County Council under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for localised flood relief works across 56 other locations in the county.
The cost of constructing the Castleconnell Flood Relief Scheme and other Limerick 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.
A full list of schemes and further information on individual schemes is available on www.floodinfo.ie.
For more information or to arrange an interview opportunity with an OPW spokesperson, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie
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