Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2026
94. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the timeframe for the Athlone flood alleviation scheme, including original planned completion date; revised expected completion date; and reasons for each delay to date. [10600/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra95. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the current percentage of works completed on the Athlone scheme; and the expected dates for remaining elements. [10601/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra96. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the itemised cost breakdown of the Athlone flood alleviation scheme; to provide the original budget; current projected cost; the reasons for cost increases; and confirmation of whether cost overruns have impacted delivery timelines. [10602/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 95 and 96 together.
The Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme is being led by Westmeath County Council with funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Construction of the Scheme is also being undertaken directly by the OPW. The overall scheme has eight individual flood cells and the work has been carried out on a cell by cell basis. The total number of properties to be protected by the scheme is 554.
Construction of the scheme commenced in 2017 on Flood Cell 6 (Iona) while the other flood cells were being progressed through the planning process with six of those flood cells receiving planning consent throughout 2017 and 2018. Defences are largely in place now in many areas of the Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme with 99% overall of the flood defences constructed, and a number of the flood cell defences now complete. Re-instatement works are currently ongoing together with the completion of pumping station fit outs and the commissioning of the eight pumping stations. Five are now active and three are scheduled to be commissioned by the end of February 2026. Construction works in Flood Cell 1, Deerpark are well advanced following the granting of a compulsory purchase order, Works in Flood Cell 5, Marine View will be advanced subject to access agreements with the landowner concerned. It is anticipated the works undertaken to date in conjunction with the implementation of Westmeath County Council’s Emergency Response Plan would significantly reduce the risk to the town from flooding in the case of an extreme weather event.
The current estimate for the scheme to reach substantial completion is in Q3 2026 subject to progression of the works as programmed. This excludes Flood Cell 7, the River Al as an environmental impact assessment and planning consent is required before it can progress.
Delays to the scheme were incurred as a result of prolonged elevated water levels on the River Shannon and the introduction of high quality masonry finishes to the flood walls together with scope development during the construction phase. Co-ordination of flood alleviation works around the Main Drainage Scheme also resulted in numerous work fronts being rescheduled. Delays due to archaeological issues attributed to significant delay to works on Flood Cell 2, The Strand and Flood Cell 3, The Quay. Covid-19 dramatically impacted on works progress during 2020 and much of 2021 in terms of controls which affected efficiencies as well as lost time due to absences.
The budget for schemes is calculated at different stages of design, planning and pre construction. Given the staged approach by cell to this project, the projected budget has remained under review. To the end of 2025 some €31.5m has been spent on this project.
