Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
20. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the flood relief schemes in progress or in planning for Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10690/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge and saw first-hand the impact of flooding in Carlow during Storm Chandra when I visited some of the affected areas in the town in recent days.
The Government is investing over €14m in new and existing flood relief schemes in Carlow.
The Carlow Flood Relief Scheme was initiated in 1996, following severe flooding in 1995, and was constructed from 2010 to 2013. The Scheme, which comprises flood defence walls and embankments along the River Barrow and Burren Stream, with a pumping station at their confluence, provides protection against a 1 in 100-year flood event (1% Annual Exceedance Probability). The Scheme was completed in two phases, in 2013 and 2014, and protects 185 properties. The OPW and Carlow County Council are currently in discussion to progress the development of a further flood relief scheme for Carlow to augment the existing scheme to protect a further 35 properties.
The OPW has awarded a contract to produce a Scheme Climate Change Adaptation Plan (SCCAP) for the existing Carlow Flood Relief Scheme. The SCCAP will be developed pursuant to National Climate Policy and the OPW’s commitments under the Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Flood Risk Management (2019) to ensure that the scheme is readily adaptable to future requirements. This work is expected to be completed before the end of 2027.
Since 2018, and with funding from the National Development Plan, the OPW has trebled, to some 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning or construction nationally. These are the first tranche of flood relief schemes to be progressed, as part of the overall national programme of some 150 flood relief schemes. The first tranche includes the project to augment the existing Scheme at Carlow that I have referenced.
A second tranche of schemes cannot yet be progressed at this time due to limited capacity in the OPW, the local authorities, and in the specialised consultancy market. A Tranche 2 project is planned for Leighlinbridge, in County Carlow, with an estimated budget of approximately €3.3m.
It is open to local authorities to apply to the OPW for funding for other localised flood mitigation works through the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding or coastal erosion problems. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. Since 2009, the OPW has approved approximately €1.46m for 13 projects in County Carlow under this Scheme.
This includes the approval of a total of €790,181 for Minor Works projects in Tullow, which included the construction of walls, berms and flood gates along the River Slaney, the upgrade of a drainage system along Thom Traynor Road, and the installation of pumps and sumps. These works were completed in 2015.
