Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 June 2026
57. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the flood relief projects currently planned, under development or under construction in County Kildare; the stage each project has reached; the estimated completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44239/26]
View answer58. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of properties in County Kildare identified as being at significant risk of flooding under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme; and the measures proposed to reduce flood risk in those communities. [44240/26]
View answer59. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the funding allocated for flood prevention, drainage maintenance and flood mitigation works in County Kildare in each of the past five years; the projects supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44241/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 58 and 59 together.
In 2018, the OPW completed the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme the largest ever flood risk study in Ireland to date. This study involved a detailed engineering assessment for 300 communities identified as areas of potentially significant flood risk.
The Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMP), the output of the CFRAM Programme mapped, at a community level, properties at potential significant flood risk and the viable measures to protect these at risk properties. While the details are set out in the Liffey and the Barrow FRMPs, some 900 properties were identified at significant risk from flooding across Kildare.
To date managing that risk is being delivered through four major flood relief schemes that have been completed in County Kildare, the Lower Morrell (Turnings), Morrell Johnstown, Rye Water (Leixlip) and Shinkeen Stream (Hazelhatch).
The 2018 Flood Risk Management Plans identified six additional flood relief schemes for Kildare and three potential schemes subject to further assessment. Currently, there are three major flood relief schemes underway in Co. Kildare; Morell River, Athy and Naas. The OPW fund two engineering staff in Kildare County Council to support its delivery of this programme of schemes and other schemes across the county.
The Morell River Flood Management Scheme is due to be substantially complete in 2026. Construction began on 1st September 2020, with construction works being undertaken by the OPW East Region Construction team. Some 95% of the construction works are now complete.
Consultants were appointed by Kildare County Council to the Athy Flood Relief Scheme in July, 2023. A second public participation day was held in July 2025, to present potential scheme design options. The Options Development Report for the scheme is currently being finalised. This includes a Cost-Benefit assessment of all potential options. Once approved, a third public participation day will be held to share the preferred option for the scheme. The preferred option, once selected, is due to be submitted for planning in Q1 2027.
Consultants were appointed by Kildare County Council to the Naas Flood Relief Scheme in September 2020. The Naas Flood Relief Scheme is currently at preliminary design stage. Extensive hydraulic modelling work has been completed by the consultant and recent flow surveys have fed into the model. Final calibration of the hydraulic model is underway and is being reviewed by the steering group together with all associated deliverables. Assessment of potential options for the scheme has commenced with a public participation day planned for Q3, 2026 for the Emerging Options.
The Leixlip Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Kildare County Council. Kildare County Council have drafted the brief for consultants and are working together with the OPW to review the brief to establish the best way to deliver this scheme which is an extension of the completed Rye Water (Leixlip) flood relief scheme.
The delivery of these schemes forms part of the implementation of the Flood Risk Management Plans published in 2018. It is not possible to progress all 150 flood relief schemes identified by the Flood Risk Management Plans simultaneously, due to the limited availability of the professional and specialised engineering and other skills and services that are required to design and construct flood relief schemes.
Under the national programme for flood relief schemes, work has yet to commence on the design of some 50 Tranche 2 projects which includes flood relief schemes at Clane, Maynooth and Newbridge. Planning for the delivery model of these schemes has commenced through four Tranche 2 Pilot schemes at locations in Counties Donegal and Kilkenny. The Pilot will better inform the prioritisation of future schemes nationally and the scope of services required to design and facilitate the delivery model for the design and construction of flood relief schemes. While it is anticipated that work to progress the Tranche 2 schemes will commence within the lifetime of the National Development Plan, the implementation of these schemes will continue post-2030.
The 29 FRMPs set out both viable structural and non-structural measures to manage the flood risk in the communities at potentially significant flood risk and elsewhere around the country. The FRMPs identified the proposed schemes to protect 95% of the properties at risk within those communities.
The residual risk are being addressed by the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. On the 25th May 2026, I announced details of the revised criteria for the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme which greatly increase the scope of the Scheme to provide local authorities with a greater opportunity to address localised flood and coastal erosion risks within their administrative areas. The revisions include an increase in the upper threshold in funding for projects from €750,000 to €2m and an increase in the OPW contribution from 90% to 95% for approved funding above €300,000. Further revisions include the relaxing of some economic criteria which lowers the required threshold for viable solutions.
I also announced details of once-off funding of €90,000 to Kildare County Council to remove river conveyance blockages in Co Kildare.
Since 2009, OPW has approved funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of circa €1.78 million to County Kildare for some 7 projects.
The spend on the Morrell, Naas and Athy Flood Relief Schemes from 2021 – 2025 are set out under.
|
Year |
Athy |
Morrell |
Naas |
|
2021 |
€0 |
€2,784,056 |
€337,018 |
|
2022 |
€0 |
€2,701,342 |
€292,200 |
|
2023 |
€39,335 |
€3,824,907 |
€411,625 |
|
2024 |
€640,503 |
€3,546,230 |
€366,034 |
|
2025 |
€388,506 |
€3,733,310 |
€302,799 |
The OPW is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended. The arterial drainage programme comprises 11,500km of river channel and 800km of embankments. This provides drainage for 260,000 hectares of agricultural lands, as well as a level of protection from flooding to infrastructure, including in excess of 20,000 properties, 2,400 kilometres of roads and 77 towns and villages. Nationally, the OPW carry out an annual maintenance programme each year. This maintenance work is organised on a regional basis, with headquarters located in Limerick, Headford, Co. Galway and Trim, Co. Meath as follows;
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
|
Year |
Channel Maintained |
Embankments Maintained |
Amount (€) |
|
2025 |
1,976km |
158km |
€22,201,452 |
|
2024 |
1,937km |
207km |
€22,078,200 |
|
2023 |
2,157km |
201km |
€21,401,559 |
|
2022 |
2,052km |
214km |
€21,401,559 |
|
2021 |
2,125km |
116.5km |
€21,401,559 |
The OPW does not have information broken down by county, as arterial drainage schemes traverse county boundaries. Maintenance works are conducted by OPW East Region Drainage Maintenance Section annually on channels located in Co. Kildare. A portion of each of the following arterial drainage schemes are located in Co. Kildare:
• Boyne Catchment Arterial Drainage Scheme
• Hazelhatch (Shinkeen) Flood Relief Scheme
• Ryewater Drainage Scheme (which in maintained by the OPW on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine).
The OPW has been allocated €23,511,000 in funding to conduct its national maintenance programme for arterial drainage schemes for 2026. The total funding amount is reviewed by the OPW on a yearly basis and adjusted as necessary, through engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
