AN END to the threat of repeated flooding is one step closer for residents of Castleconnell with the announcement that a flood relief plan is to be submitted.
Kieran O’Donnell TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), announced that his office has given the approval for Limerick City and County Council to submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála for a much needed flood relief scheme for Castleconnell.
Minister O’Donnell said that he wanted to “acknowledge the support from the Castleconnell community that was valuable to inform the design of a scheme for its town, which will protect the 50 properties, including 35 residential and families at risk from flooding together with 15 commercial properties and businesses”.
In 2018, following the government’s introduction of Flood Risk Management Plans, the Council was given funding from the OPW and appointed JBA engineering and environmental consultants to design a flood relief scheme for Castleconnell.
The scheme design includes flood walls at the rear of the northern properties and the rear of Mall House, a new set-back flood wall along the Mall Road, and a flood wall alongside Maher’s Pub car park.
There will be road raising and a flood gate across Island House entrance and an embankment is to be constructed from Meadowbrook Estate to Stormont House.
The scheme’s design also includes a demountable barrier across Chapel Hill Road along with road raising and an embankment to the rear of Coolbane Woods.
Deputy O’Donnell said that the announcement “is the outcome of very detailed engineering analysis, environmental assessments, and engagement with the public on the sources of flooding from the River Shannon and the Cedarwood Stream in Castleconnell, and the options to protect the town”.
“There are currently four flood relief schemes at different stages of progression in County Limerick. The King’s Island Flood Relief Schemes is due to commence construction in November with a construction cost of €32m (excluding VAT). The Limerick City and Environs Flood Relief Scheme has commenced optioneering to identify a preferred and viable design. The Adare and Athea Flood Relief Schemes have each identified an emerging preferred design option and are programmed to go to planning in 2025.”
In addition to these major schemes, the OPW has approved €3.2m to Limerick City and County Council under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for localised flood relief works across 56 other locations in the county.
A full list of schemes and further information on individual schemes is available on floodinfo.ie.
