Update on flood defence plan for Limerick village

LIMERICK City and County Council has been given the green light to formally apply to develop a flood relief scheme in Castleconnell.

The news came in an announcement by local TD and Minister of State at the Office of Public Works Kieran O'Donnell.

He said the defences will protect 50 properties, 35 of which are family homes, and 15 commercial properties and businesses.

It was back in 2018 that council appointed consultants to design a flood relief scheme for Castleconnell.

Pictured above: Kieran O'Donnell in 2009 after the River Shannon burst its banks to cause chaos in Castleconnell

The scheme design for Castleconnell includes flood walls at the rear of the northern properties and the rear of Mall House, a new set-back flood wall along the Mall Road and a flood wall alongside Maher’s Pub car park. There will be road raising and a flood gate across Island House entrance and an embankment is to be constructed from Meadowbrook Estate to Stormont House.  The scheme’s design also includes a demountable barrier across Chapel Hill Road along with road raising and an embankment to the rear of Coolbane Woods.

The announcement that a planning application can now be made comes after a detailed engineering analysis, environmental assessments and engagement with the public on options to protect the village.

Mr O'Donnell added: "There are currently four flood relief schemes at different stages of progression in Limerick. The King’s Island Flood Relief Scheme is due to commence construction in November with a construction cost of €32m. The Limerick City and Environs Flood Relief Scheme has commenced optioneering to identify a preferred and viable design.  The Adare and Athea Flood Relief Schemes have each identified an emerging preferred design option and are programmed to go to planning in 2025."

The cost of constructing the Castleconnell Flood Relief Scheme and other Limerick schemes will be met from the Government’s commitment to managing Ireland’s flood risk through the €1.3bn 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.