Laois Co Council to submit planning application for Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme
The scene of flooding that hit Mountmellick in November 2017
Laois County Council has been given the nod to submit a planning application for the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme to An Coimisiún Pleanála for planning consent.
The news has been welcomed by Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Kevin 'Boxer' Moran TD, who said: “I am pleased to announce that following OPW approval, Laois County Council is proceeding with a planning application for a flood relief scheme for Mountmellick to provide protection up to the level of a 1 in 100 year flood event and I wish to acknowledge the support from the community in Mountmellick that was valuable to inform the design of a scheme for its town, which will protect some 244 properties including the 90 properties which experienced flooding in 2017.” Mountmellick experienced severe flooding from the Owenass River and other tributaries of the River Barrow in 2017. In 2019, following the Government’s introduction of Flood Risk Management Plans, Laois County Council with funding from the OPW appointed JBA Consulting and JB Barry and Partners (now Egis) engineering and environmental consultants to design a flood relief scheme for Mountmellick.
The scheme design for Mountmellick comprises continuous flood defences to defend properties from flooding from the Owenass River, Garroon Stream, Pound River and Clontygar River. The flood defences include a series of embankments, flood defence walls, a bridge replacement, culverts and a pumping station installation. These will be readily adaptable to protect against any increased flood risks from climate change.
Today’s announcement is the outcome of very detailed engineering analysis, environmental assessments and engagement with the public on the sources of flooding from Mountmellick’s rivers and the options to protect the town. Today’s announcement follows Laois County Council approval from the OPW to proceed to seek planning consent for the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme.
Minister Moran concluded by highlighting the Government is investing €50m in flood risk management across Laois and that Mountmellick is one of three flood relief schemes for the county. A Flood Relief Scheme has already been submitted for planning for Clonaslee, which will protect 74 properties when completed. A flood relief scheme for Portarlington is also being developed and is expected to be submitted for planning in 2026.
The cost of these schemes will be met from the Government’s commitment to managing Ireland’s flood risk through the financial provisions for flood relief measures set out in the National Development Plan. The design of this and all flood relief schemes is future proofed and is adaptable to meet the increasing flood risk from climate change.
In addition to these major schemes, the OPW has approved approximately €0.6m. to Laois County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for localised flood relief works across 8 other locations in the county.
