Flood Relief Schemes Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-29 ============================================================ Thomas Byrne (FF), Meath East I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I know we have all seen, along with the Minister, Deputy Browne, and the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, who cannot be here today, the devastation that flooding has on people, businesses and the Enniscorthy community. The town of Enniscorthy, unfortunately, has a long history of flooding, the most recent being this week, with previous events in 2000 and 2015. Flooding is a huge problem and leads to incalculable losses to people and a loss of a secure feeling as well. The Government has introduced a range of supports this week. Correctly, the community, the Senator and the Minister, Deputy Browne, are seeking a long-term solution through a flood relief scheme. Following extensive engineering analysis, public consultation and environmental assessments, in March 2020, the OPW submitted the Enniscorthy food relief scheme for statutory confirmation. The main elements of the proposed scheme included the construction of flood defence walls and river channel widening and deepening. The scheme also included the removal of the Seamus Rafter Bridge and the construction of new and replacement road and pedestrian bridges over the Slaney. In March 2022, the Minister made a decision to refuse this scheme consent. The decision was due primarily, as the Senator said, to concerns about the impact on the freshwater pearl mussel. The Minister at the time, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, gave a commitment subsequently to deliver a flood relief scheme for Enniscorthy. I confirm that commitment today, and the aim of this Government is to provide protection not just to some 50 properties that were affected this week but to 326 properties at risk from flooding in Enniscorthy. All of them need protection. The Minister of State, Deputy Moran, visited Enniscorthy last April and reaffirmed his commitment to deliver this scheme at a meeting with elected representatives. Given the refusal for planning consent, work had to be undertaken to look for alternative approaches to managing the flood risk from the scheme submitted for confirmation. There is also a requirement to investigate alternative options that consider the changes in policy and approaches to assessments that have occurred since the scheme was first designed. Since that time there has been extensive engagement between the OPW and Wexford County Council for an alternative flood relief scheme. At the end of 2023, the council submitted a proposed strategy for the progression of the scheme, which was approved by the OPW and comprises two phases. The main elements of the first phase of the scheme will include the construction of a new road bridge over the Slaney, construction of a new pedestrian bridge and the removal of the existing Seamus Rafter Bridge. Part 2 of the scheme will include the construction of the remaining flood relief measures for Enniscorthy town. The project steering group is progressing both phases. On the design options for phase 1, an initial public consultation took place in quarter 2 of 2025 to present emerging options to the public. A second public consultation took place in November 2025. The development of the options report is now being progressed following feedback from the public. To help with a special planning application submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála, relevant environmental surveys are being updated and an environmental impact assessment report and Natura impact statement will be prepared. It is envisaged a planning application will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála in quarter 2 of 2027. Prior to lodging a planning application, a maritime area consent application will be required from the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, which is to be submitted in quarter 2 of this year. With regard to phase 2, the county council and the Office of Public Works are finalising a project brief in order to issue a tender for the appointment of an engineering and environmental consultant. This will go to tender very soon. It is envisaged a consultant will be appointed in the first half of this year. A detailed programme for the overall scheme will be subsequently developed following the appointment of a consultant for phase 2. A flood relief scheme for Enniscorthy is supported by the Government's investment in flood relief measures through the national development plan. This funding has allowed the Government to treble the number of projects at design, planning and construction, including for Wexford town and Rosslare. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-29/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:34+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-01-29