A Laois county councillor is becoming increasingly frustrated as a flood relief scheme which was promised following a catastrophic event in 2017 is still at design stage.
Fianna Fail Councillor Paddy Bracken tabled a motion on the progress of the scheme at a recent meeting of the Borris-In-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District.
Almost eight years ago, the town of Mountmellick was devastated by dreadful flooding that destroyed homes and businesses.
While the preliminary design of the scheme is complete, Laois County Council have admitted that there has been little progress in the past year as they are still waiting on the OPW to approve of the design.
Director of Services Simon Walton said: “The preliminary design of the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme is complete and, subject to approval by the OPW, will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála in Quarter 2, 2025.
“In accordance with design standards, the proposed Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme will provide flood protection for a ‘1 in 100 year flood event’, protecting properties previously impacted by flood events, such as that in November 2017.
“Furthermore, the Scheme is designed such that individual elements, of the Scheme are adaptable, to accommodate the introduction of future, supplementary works, to dully address climate change and residual flood risk, including residual flood risk for a 1 in 1000 year flood event.”
Fianna Fail Councillor Paddy Bracken was deeply unhappy about this response and said that ‘red tape’ was holding this up.
He also explained how economic investment and housing development in Mountmellick was being held up by delays to this project.
He said: “It has been almost eight years since the flooding happened in 2017, and I understood this was going to An Bord Planeala last year.
“It is also subject to approval by the OPW. I thought that the OPW, in conjunction with that whole scheme, were working in conjunction. It’s subject to approval by the OPW.
“It still hasn’t been signed off? It’s a huge issue going on eight years, we have had consultants on site and altering and changing the plan, while it’s having a huge and detrimental effect on Mountmellick.
“In terms of the expansion of future planning and future housing, we are all aware that it’s holding up developments that may come into Mountmellick, such as the N80 bypass. We are waiting eight years for this and it’s very disappointing.
“We all know what happened in 2017, so I would appreciate clarification and the speeding up of the process.”
“The Boxer Moran walked around Mountmellick after that flood, and he had since lost his seat, and he’s back in his seat again, it shows you the time that has passed with nothing done since.
“Yes, the designs have been made, but there have been no works on the ground.
“€10 million was committed, but the money wasn’t issued. And here we are still. People are living in fear of another flood, it’s always on their mind.”
In a separate motion, Cllr Bracken asked that road issues on the Bay Road in Mountmellick be addressed.
He explained how the road markings have disappeared and this is a very boggy road.
In response, engineer Rory O’Callaghan explained how there was no budget available in 2025 for works on this but the matter can be reviewed for the 2026 budget.
Cllr Bracken said: “There is going to be a serious accident there as someone will turn over.
“We need to get funding as this is a serious accident waiting.”
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