'Boxer' boasts €50 million for Laois flood defences

The politician who promised flood defences for Mountmellick, Portarlington and Clonaslee after devestating flooding in 2017 has welcomed the announcement of a big step forward in protecting the worst hit of the three towns. 

Confirming the advancement of the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme (FRS),  Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), also revealed that a budget of €50 million has been set aside for projects in Mountmellick, Portarlington and Clonaslee.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live reported on October 28, that, following OPW approval, Laois County Council has submitted a planning application for the Mountmellick FRS to An Coimisiún Pleanála for planning consent to provide protection up to a 1 in 100-year flood.

"I wish to acknowledge the support from the community in Mountmellick that was valuable to inform the design of a scheme for its town," he said.

The project will protect hundreds of properties, including the 90 properties which experienced flooding in 2017.

Minister Moran was also in Government in November 2017 when he saw first-hand the damage caused in Mountmellick by severe flooding from the Owenass River and other tributaries of the River Barrow.

He promised a solution at the time and in 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. 

MORE BELOW PHOTO

Kevin Boxer Moran in Irishtown, Mountmellick in 2017.

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.

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 statement from his department said a Flood Relief Scheme has already been submitted for planning for Clonaslee, which will protect 74 properties when completed. It said a flood relief scheme for Portarlington is also being developed and is expected to be submitted for planning in 2026.

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A statement said 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 €600k. to Laois Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for localised flood relief works across 8 other locations in the county.