Consultants appointed for Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Patrick O’Donovan, TD, today (26 May) visited Cavan Town to officiate at the appointment by Cavan County Council of Byrne Looby Consulting Engineers Ltd as Engineering Consultants to carry out the design of the Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme. Delivered in partnership with the OPW, the Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme is part of the Government’s investment under Project Ireland 2040 of €1.3 billion in flood relief to protect communities across Ireland from the impacts of climate change through future-proofed, adaptable flood relief schemes.

 Welcoming the appointment, Minister O’Donovan said: “The appointment of consultants today by Cavan County Council, working closely with the Office of Public Works, means that this Government – in just four years – has increased to ninety, the number of flood relief schemes being delivered across the country. For the local community in Cavan, it means that 54 homes and 56 non-residential properties at risk of flooding in the town will be protected when this flood relief scheme is completed. The scheme design will be developed by the consultants in consultation with the community, who will have the opportunity to engage with the proposals through extensive public consultation throughout the process.”

Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Tommy Ryan, added: “With an estimated investment of over €7 million, this scheme represents a significant expansion of Cavan Town’s flood defences. The project will ultimately provide vital flood protection measures to homes and businesses in the area and will build on the extensive flood risk research already conducted for Cavan Town as part of the CFRAM Study. We look forward to working closely with the Office of Public Works to bring this landmark scheme to completion.”

Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr Clifford Kelly said: “I welcome this appointment and the significant milestone that this scheme represents. I would encourage all stakeholders to have their say on this important scheme by participating in the public consultation that will form part of the project’s planning and detailed design stages.”

The proposed Flood Relief Scheme for Cavan Town will be subject to project-level assessment and planning (exhibition and confirmation) and may include a series of hard defences, including flood embankments and walls. These proposed hard defences with an average height of 1.4m and a total length of 2km would protect properties to the 1% (or 1 in 100) Annual Exceedance Probability flood standard.

Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme:

• Cavan County Council, working with the OPW, has agreed to be the Lead Authority in the delivery of Flood Relief Scheme at Cavan Town.
• The Cavan Town Scheme has a preliminary cost estimate of €7.3m.
• A project Steering Group has been established and includes OPW personnel (administrative and technical) and Local Authority representatives, similar to the arrangements in place for the projects already being implemented under the existing Flood Relief Capital Works Programme.
• Stage 1 of the scheme is anticipated to take two years and will include the necessary surveying and environmental assessments in order to identify options and develop the scheme design in preparation for submission of Planning. Subject to planning consent, the anticipated construction programme for the Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme is two years.
• Consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies as well as the public will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of this flood relief scheme.