Flood Risk Management County Summary

County: Cavan

Report Produced:

Major Flood Relief Schemes

Historically, flood risk management focused on arterial drainage for the benefit of agricultural improvement. Arising from increasing flood risk, the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, was amended in 1995 to permit the Office of Public Works (OPW) to implement localised flood relief schemes to provide flood protection for cities, towns and villages.

Some schemes have been carried out by the Local Authorities under their own powers using the Planning and Development legislative code. The OPW either works in association with the relevant Local Authorities or funds Local Authorities directly to undertake flood relief works.

Scheme Properties Protected Current Status
Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme 110 Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
*This information has been extracted from the 2018 Flood Risk Management Plans as more up todate information is not currently available.

FRM "Small Projects"

Information on Local Authority led FRMP "Small Projects" (any project costing up to €1M or protecting 10 or more properties)

Scheme Stage/Gateway Properties Protected
*This information has been extracted from the 2018 Flood Risk Management Plans as more up to date information is not currently available.

Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme (the “Minor Works Scheme”) was introduced by the Office of Public Works in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame.

Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available from the OPW for approved projects. The commencement and progression of any works for which funding is approved is a matter for each Local Authority concerned.

Local Authority Project Location Project Details Approved Funding (€) Year of Approval
Cavan County Council Mullanavarnoge Redhills To re-construct existing culvert 65m long 600mm diameter 11,700 2020
Cavan County Council Pollamore The proposal seeks to create a temporary floodplain storage area of approximately 1 hectare in size through the construction of an in stream structure or ‘leaky dam’ alongside the installation of approximately 25m of Engineered earthen flood embankment typically 1.0m to 1.2m high as well as any alterations to existing ground levels within the detention area, associated drainage, fencing and ancillary works necessary. The objective of the proposed measure is to create an area to attenuate flood flow & delay flood peaks reaching the mouth of the culvert downstream at the business park. It is proposed that the in-stream structure will be constructed in such a manner that normal flows will pass unimpeded and only flows greater than this will result in the diversion of water to the detention area. The in-stream structure incorporates materials which are robust in nature and will not degrade over time resulting in minimal maintenance requirements in the area. 55,264 2025
Cavan County Council Knockateery Cloverhills To install new 300 diameter culvert, construct 100m roadside banking edge support, re-construct, raise & resurface 100m of local primary road 14,850 2020
Cavan County Council Aghaadreenagh Redhills Replace damaged culvert 5.5long 6,750 2020
Cavan County Council Drummullan A scheme comprising a combination of earthen embankment, culvert and flood wall defences. 205,002 2018
Cavan County Council Butlersbridge Upgrade culvert / Install flap valve at mouth of pipe entering river. Clean drains in the vicinity & repair roadway. 38,700 2012
Cavan County Council L6027 Ballyhaise Pitch To construct an overflow either full length of field or option 2 to construct an overflow culvert under link between pitches discharging into a newly constructed open overflow field drain 14,850 2020
Cavan County Council Drumliff Ballyhaise To re-construct existing culvert 65m long 600mm diameter 17,100 2020
Cavan County Council Ballyhaise Cavan Road To create 150m land drainage to rear, install 70m 225 diameter drain to rear to discharge into existing system & renew 100m of 300 diameter culvert downstream of properties 10,350 2020
Cavan County Council Rantavan Mullagh Works at the eye of the bridge 72,000 2012
Cavan County Council Crosskeys Bridge Replace Bridge 72,000 2010

Maintenance carried out under Arterial Drainage Act, 1945

The OPW has statutory responsibility for and carries out a programme of Arterial Drainage Maintenance. These maintenance works relate to arterial drainage schemes completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945, with the primary purpose to improve the drainage of agricultural lands. Local Authorities are responsible for the maintenance of Drainage Districts, which were completed up to 1943.

The OPW’s annual Arterial Drainage Maintenance Works Programme protects 260,000 hectares (650,000 acres) of agricultural lands and comprises 11,500km (7,150 miles) of river channel and approximately 800km (500 miles) of embankments.

Completed Scheme Scheme Type County(s) Duration of Works Benefitting Area (Acres)
Boyne Major Arterial Drainage Scheme Cavan, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath 1969-1986 119,000
Glyde and Dee Major Arterial Drainage Scheme Cavan, Louth, Meath, Monaghan 1950-1957 26,300
Inny Major Arterial Drainage Scheme Cavan, Longford, Meath, Westmeath 1960-1968 50,000

2018 Flood Risk Management Plans Overview

The following table sets out the communities in this county that are covered by the Flood Risk Management Plans launched in May 2018 and provides an indication of the proposed flood relief schemes contained in the Plans for these communities. It should be noted that this table provides the position from May 2018 and the status of some schemes may have changed since then. Any changes will be reflected elsewhere in the county summary. In some instances, a technically viable flood relief scheme has been identified, however, a more detailed assessment of the costs and benefits will be completed to determine if the proposed Scheme is feasible. For other communities, there is a relatively low level of flood risk from rivers and/or the sea, and no structural flood relief measures are therefore proposed at this time. The current level of risk will be reviewed, along with all areas, on a regular basis into the future. In addition to the implementation of proposed flood relief schemes, funding will continue to be available for localised projects under the Minor Works Scheme. The Plans also set out those non-structural measures in place or proposed, for example Flood Forecasting, which benefit all at risk communities and properties. The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group will continue its work now greatly informed by the wealth of knowledge in the Plans to bring forward further feasible proposals for Government’s consideration to support and assist households and communities through non-structural flood risk management and mitigation measures.

Area Name Existing Scheme in Place Scheme in Construction, Design or Pending New Scheme Proposed in the Plans Potential Scheme subject to further assessment No Scheme Proposed as Community at Low Risk or Scheme Not Viable
Ballyconnell
Cavan