Update on €20m landmark flooding project in Laois

Another tender has been issued for the long-awaited Mountmellick Flood Relief scheme almost nine years on from the devastating flooding that hit the town.

Laois County Council have sought more detailed topographical surveys to be carried out to move forward with the €20 million infrastructure project.

The tender issued for the work states: “Although some surveys were conducted as part of stage 2 additional surveys are required to; address gaps in the earlier topographical surveys, obtain more accurate ground-based survey where aerial surveys were previously carried out, provide a detailed manhole survey, conduct detailed survey of buildings, bridges and fences that may be affected by the scheme and identify all utilities that may be impacted during the construction of the scheme.”

READ NEXT: Laois church applies for planning permission for extension

The estimated value of the contract is €50,000 and tenders can be submitted by September 25.

Last month Laois County Council published tender documents for a Ground Investigation Contract with an estimated value of €200,000, excluding VAT.

The planning documents for the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme were submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála in October 2025 and are currently awaiting approval.

The latest movement on the planning application saw An Coimisiún Pleanála request further information on the plans. They are anticipated to make their decision by November.

Flood defences were promised for Mountmellick after the town experienced severe flooding in November 2017 which caused millions of euros worth of damage to properties due to flood waters from the Owenass River and its tributaries.

The town is prone to extensive flooding due to several rivers running through it, including the Barrow, Owenass, Pound, and Clontygar.

The Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme is hoped to protect the area from future flooding, with 160 properties to be defended against a 1 in 100 year flood. Around 90 of these properties were impacted by the November 2017 flooding.

The proposed scheme includes the construction of 1,191 metres of flood defence walls and 5,366 metres of embankments.

The works are proposed on a mix of public and private land with landowners’ permission and along watercourses including the River Owenass, River Pound, Clontygar Stream and Carroon Stream.