€40M FLOOD DEFENCE FOR TOWN
DUNDALK is to receive half of the flood defence funding announced for Louth last week. The town and hinterland is to benefit from €40million for vital works needed protect 1,737 houses which were identified as being at risk from flooding in the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.
The programme, which follows an extensive period of risk assessment, mapping and public consultation, also sees €23.4m allocated to protect 296 homes in the Carlingford/Greenore are while Drogheda East Meath €16.8m gets to protect 240 homes.
Each flood protection method tailored will be specifically to each of the identified flood prone areas and will include a mixture of hard defences, channel conveyance and flow diversion and pumping stations depending on the location.
The news has been welcomed by Cllr John McGahon who stated that the ‘funding for Dundalk will provide vital protection for the town and its hinterlands.’
‘In recent years we have seen flooding become more problematic for Dundalk and North Louth and the fact that we have received the highest allocation in the country shows that the Government fully understands how vulnerable Dundalk is without proper flood protection.’
Deputy Fergus O’Dowd commented: ‘ The Office of Public Works and Flood Relief has consulted with communities here in Louth to ensure their views and concerns in relation to flood risk are taken on board.
“There were five public consultation days held on the Flood maps in early 2015 in Louth. Another five public consultation days were held on the potential risk mitigation measures in early 2016 and two further public consultation days were held on the planning aspect late last year.’
He said was anxious that the work be carried out to protect homes in the areas at risk ‘ as a matter of urgency’.
‘I want our local authorities to expedite planning permission on these flooding works in order to do this,’ he said, adding that clarity was needed ‘ on any potential insurance issues that may arise for the residents of these areas.’
‘I want all my constituents to know that the funding commitment is only half the battle. I will continue to make representations on their behalf to ensure this money is spent promptly and appropriately.’
Separately, Cllr McGahon stressed the importance of work being carried out to reinforce the embankment at Bellurgan to protect homes, businesses and farmland at risk from flooding in the north Louth area.
‘I have also consistently raised the need to reinforce the Bellurgan Embankment at council meetings and with officials. ‘BOTH Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick and I invited Minister Harris when he was responsible for the OPW to visit Bellurgan and view the need for a reinforced embankment himself.’
A spokesperson for the OPW confirmed that the Bellurgan Embankment didn’t fall under the remit of the CFRAM study but that ‘ Louth County Council is progressing the works which commenced in 2017 on the Bellurgan Embankment.’
‘ The estimated project budget for this work is €0.750m and work is expected to be completed in quarter two 2018. The OPW has included provision for the costs of the proposed works in its financial profile in the period up to 2020.’