How did we get here?

Athy and surrounding areas have a history of regular flooding from the River Barrow and its tributaries. The OPW, working in partnership with Kildare County Council and other Local Authorities, have completed the South-East Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study in 2017. The objectives of the CFRAM Study were to:

• Identify and map the existing and potential future flood hazard within the CFRAM Study Area,

• Assess and map the existing and potential future flood risk within the CFRAM Study Area,

• Identify viable structural and non-structural options and measures for the effective and sustainable management of flood risk in the Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) and within the CFRAM Study Area as a whole,

• Prepare a set of Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) for the CFRAM Study Area, and associated Startegic Environmental and, as necessary, Habitats Directive (Appropriate) Assessment, that sets out the policies, strategies, measures and actions that should be pursued by the relevant bodies, including the OPW, Local Authorities and other Stakeholders, to achieve the most cost-effective and sustainable management of existing and potential future flood risk within the Study Area, taking account of environmental plans, objectives and legislative requirements and other statutory plans and requirements. 

The South-East CFRAM Study Area identified Athy as an Area of Further Assessment (AFA) and concluded that a flood relief scheme is to be undertaken.

The flood relief measures identified in the CFRAM assessment for Athy include the construction of flood walls and embankments.

The CFRAM scheme, along with other potentially feasible alternatives, will undergo a comprehensive engineering evaluation within the scope of this project. It is important to highlight that measures identified in the CFRAM study might not necessarily be incorporated into the favoured scheme. Every potentially viable option will undergo a thorough assessment as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process for the scheme. 

All relevant CFRAM Study reports are available, for information purposes, on floodinfo.ie website.

Click here to see how this community was assessed.

(You will be redirected to Floodinfo.ie)