Red tape ties up Mountmellick flood relief 

RED tape is delaying a vital flood relief scheme in Mountmellick that was promised nearly eight years ago, after devastating floods swept through the town.

Laois County Council has been waiting since last year for the Office of Public Works (OPW) to approve the preliminary design of the scheme, which was promised after the notorious flooding of November 2017.

At a council meeting this week, angry councillors condemned the “red tape and lack of clarity” surrounding long delays in approving the scheme design.

Mountmellick councillor Paddy Bracken pointed out that Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, who visited the town during the floods when he had responsibility for the OPW, had lost and regained his Dáil seat and returned to his position over the OPW since the scheme was promised, reflecting the length of time that had passed with “nothing done”.

Cllr Bracken said: “People are living in fear and insurance is a huge issue now with properties in the town.” 

Other councillors also stressed that residents affected by the flooding have been “left in limbo”, unable to insure or sell their properties until the flood prevention works are completed.

Cllr Bracken sought an update on the project at the April meeting of Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District.

In a written response, council director of services Simon Walton said: ‘The preliminary design of the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme is complete and, subject to approval by OPW, will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) in quarter 2 (April-June) 2025.

‘In accordance with design standards, the proposed Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme will provide flood protection for a 1 in 100-year flood event, protecting properties previously impacted by flood events, such as that in November 2017. 

‘Furthermore, the scheme is designed such that individual elements of the scheme are adaptable, to accommodate the introduction of future, supplementary works to fully address climate change and residual flood risk, including residual flood risk for a 1 in 1,000-year flood event.’ 

Cllr Bracken said he was “very disappointed” with the reply, as he thought that the OPW and ABP were working together on the scheme and that the design was to go to ABP last year. He asked for clarification, as he could not understand why the design was “subject to approval” by the OPW, given that the OPW was working on the scheme.

Director of services Angela McEvoy said it was her understanding that it would be “a sign-off by the OPW” before the approval goes to ABP.

Cllr Bracken demanded: “It still hasn't been signed off? This is going on for nearly eight years and it’s urgent. We’ve had consultants on site and altering and changing the plan, while it’s having a huge detrimental effect on Mountmellick. It’s holding up a huge amount of development. It’s very disappointing, to say the least.” 

District cathaoirleach Cllr Seamus McDonald agreed, saying that the scheme was a serious issue and was dragging on far too long.

Cllr Conor Bergin recalled that €10m was announced for flood relief schemes in Mountmellick, Portarlington and Clonaslee but people affected by the flooding in 2017 were “living in limbo” ever since, unable to insure or sell their homes. He said that people needed clarity, as there seemed to be “an incredible amount of red tape” around these flood prevention schemes.

Cllr Bergin said: “It is just bounced around by different State agencies, from the OPW to An Bord Pleanála and that's how things stretch on for years. It needs to be pushed through and signed off.” 

After the €10m fund was announced in late 2017, with over €3m allocated to Mountmellick, the county council and the OPW appointed a team to develop a flood relief scheme. The designs were finally completed in 2024 but will have to be approved by ABP before work can begin.