What's the Latest On Flood Protection Progress In Kildare? Several Projects Completed, More To Follow

Thursday, 24 October 2024 15:47

By Martin Osborne

There are no plans for several areas across the county as they are deemed "low risk".

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has completed four significant flood relief schemes in Kildare.

The completed projects include flood relief efforts at Lower Morrell (Turnings), Morrell Johnstown, Rye Water (Leixlip), and Shinkeen (Hazelhatch).

Currently, three additional flood relief projects are in various stages of development.

Two projects, in Athy and Naas, are at Stage I, focusing on scheme development and preliminary design.

Meanwhile, the Morell River flood management scheme has reached Stage IV, where implementation and construction are in progress.

A further small flood relief project has also begun in Leixlip, led by Kildare County Council with funding from the OPW.

Upon completion, these four projects are expected to protect an additional 677 properties, with an estimated economic benefit of €74 million in damages and losses avoided.

Due to limited capacity within the OPW, local authorities, and the specialised consultancy sector, the national flood-relief programme was divided into two tranches.

Tranche I schemes, which are currently in progress, were prioritised based on project scale, the capacity to deliver a national programme, and maximising the return on investment by protecting the greatest number of properties.

Work on the design of 54 Tranche II flood relief schemes is yet to commence.

Tranche II projects are planned for Clane, Maynooth, and Newbridge.

Several areas, including Rathangan, Allenwood, Johnstown Bridge, Kilcock, and Monasterevin, were assessed under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.

It was determined that these areas are at low risk of flooding, and as such, flood relief schemes are not currently planned.