Boost for Kilkenny village at ‘significant flood risk’
Kilkenny County Council has been given the green light to progress the Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme to the planning stage.
Locla Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan said he was informed of the investment by Office of Public Works (OPW) Minister Patrick O’Donovan. He added a planning application is expected to be submitted later this year.
Deputy Phelan said: “Once completed, the Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme will protect 24 homes and 9 commercial properties. The Government has allocated significant funding for flood relief under the National Development Plan, but it is really important for places like Ballyhale that the response to flooding is robustly designed and incorporates the views of the community it is designed to protect.”
Ballyhale was identified as one of 300 areas across the country believed to be at significant flood risk as part of the Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme completed by the OPW in 2018.
The South Eastern CFRAM Study recommended a diversion of flow and hard defences as a feasible flood relief option for Ballyhale.
In November 2018, the OPW gave approval for Kilkenny Council to proceed with the implementation of a flood relief scheme for Ballyhale. The Council subsequently appointed DBFL Engineering & Environmental Consultants on 23 March 2020 to develop and design this scheme.
Deputy Phelan added: “Four preliminary options were identified by the consultant engineers and presented to the Council and the OPW in the Options Report, with the preferred option advancing to planning. This scheme will provide embankments and conveyance improvements through flow diversion from the Ballyhale watercourse to the Little Arrigle River.”
