Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
454. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the immediate action being taken to expediate the Slaney flood relief scheme; and when the interim measures mentioned in his recent visit to Enniscorthy will be put in place. [9701/26]
View answerThe town of Enniscorthy has a long history of flooding, including in 2000 and 2015. The recent flooding event from Storm Chandra resulted in significant and serious property damage and disruption in the town and the community. Flooding during and since Storm Chandra came from multiple sources, including the river and the sea. For those communities impacted by this flooding event and where a major flood relief scheme is planned but not yet completed, I have asked those local authorities to set out a plan of all interim measures that can help mitigate flood risk from all sources. I expect to receive these plans over the coming weeks and I will update my Government colleagues of these proposals. Whilst we await these plans from Wexford County Council immediate interim measures have been put in place by the Council. Sandbags have been distributed and placed alongside the River Slaney and its surrounding homes and businesses to prevent further flooding. Aqua Dams have been installed by Wexford County Council at Wexford Harbour to block rising water. These measures have also been put in place along the quay and promenade of Enniscorthy near the Seamus Rafter Bridge.
Following refusal of the original Scheme by the Minister for Public Expenditure in March 2022 there has been extensive engagement between the OPW and Wexford County Council on a flood relief scheme for Enniscorthy. In Q4 2023, Wexford County Council, who are the contracting authority for the Scheme, submitted a proposed strategy for the progression of the Scheme to the OPW. The proposed strategy, which was approved by the OPW, comprises two phases for the delivery of the Scheme. The main elements of the first phase will include the construction of the new River Slaney Bridge, the construction of a new pedestrian bridge and the removal of the Seamus Rafter Bridge, which poses an obstruction to river flow through the town centre during flood events. Phase 2 of the Scheme will include the construction of the remaining flood relief measures for Enniscorthy town.
The Project Steering Group, that meets monthly, is currently progressing both phases. On the design options for Phase 1, an initial Public Consultation took place in Q2 2025 to present emerging options to the public. A second PCD event took place in Q4 2025. The development of the Options Report is now being progressed following feedback from the general public.To assist with a planning application submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP), relevant environmental surveys are currently being updated and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) will be prepared and are programmed for completion in Q3 2026. It is envisaged that a planning application will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) in Q2 2027. Prior to lodging a planning application with ACP a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) application will be required from the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) that is to be submitted in Q2 2026. With regards to Phase 2, Wexford County Council and the OPW are currently finalising a Project Brief in order to issue a tender for the appointment of a consultant and it is expected to go to tender in Q1 2026. It is envisaged a consultant will be appointed in Q2 2026. A detailed Programme for the overall Scheme (Phase 1 & Phase 2) will subsequently be developed for the Scheme following the appointment of a consultant for Phase 2. The OPW and Wexford County Council must meet all of the statutory and regulatory requirements in designing a flood relief scheme to secure planning consent. The OPW and the Council remain committed to the progression of this Scheme, which currently has an approved total project budget of approximately €51m, which will be funded under the Government’s funding for flood relief measures under the National Development Plan. The OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, since 2009, has approved over €70m for some 900 projects that are mitigating flood risk to over 8,000 properties. This scheme that provides 90% funding, remains available and I will shortly be announcing the details on increasing the scope of this scheme, including increasing the funding available from €750,000 to €2m for each project.This scheme is available to fund localised measures to all communities to manage flood risk from rivers and the sea. It is also available to introduce those interim measures that can mitigate the flood risk to those communities pending completion of a major flood relief scheme. At this time the OPW is delivering major flood relief schemes to some 150 communities.
