Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has been informed by the OPW that they have included a Flood Relief Scheme for Cavan Town in the initial phase of the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme which is the largest ever flood risk study carried out in this State.
Minister Moran in his reply to Deputy Brendan Smith in Dáil Éireann stated that Cavan County Council will act as lead agency on the management and delivery of the proposed flood relief scheme in Cavan Town, valued at €4.44 m.
“A project steering group has been set up comprising of members from Cavan County Council and from OPW administrative engineering and regional divisions. The OPW has also approved funding for Cavan County Council to recruit additional staff to work exclusively on progressing the flood relief scheme in County Cavan and will form part of the steering group once appointed.
OPW has set up frameworks of consultants, which Cavan County Council can also use to progress the design of the project, which will help to speed up the process to construction. Once consultants are appointed to progress the scheme, 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 the scheme.
The next task for the steering group is to initiate the procurement of engineering design consultants and environmental consultants from the framework for such consultants, established by the OPW. It is expected that consultants will be appointed by the end Q1 2020”, stated Minister Moran in his reply to Deputy Brendan Smith’s Parliamentary Question.
Deputy Brendan Smith stated that this is a welcome and much needed development for Cavan Town and its environs as there has been a substantial number of flooding incidents in the town and on the Dublin Road in recent years. He added that it is essential that these projects are advanced to construction stage as soon as possible in view of the problems arising from increased rainfall and flooding.