Flood prevention measures

Monaghan County Council is currently seeking funding to implement three measures designed to alleviate the flooding problems which beset Monaghan Town during heavy rainfall.

The measures were outlined at the February meeting of the Monaghan MD in response to a question submitted by Cllr Raymond Aughey (FF).

One is the development of an Integrated Catchment Flood Study, which aims to “identify and address the underlying causes of flooding and to develop the appropriate alleviation proposals”.

The local authority has also carried out emergency works to a bridge over the Shambles River at Tullyhirm, the collapse of which is believed to have accentuated the town flooding.

The third measure is the construction of a culvert from the town’s Glen Road to the rear of the Castle Meadow Court area where the premises of Monaghan Credit Union is located and which is adjacent a stretch of the Shambles River. The culvert has been constructed as far as Aldi, with final design approval and funding needed to complete the remaining section.

When Cllr Alan Johnston (FG) asked when construction of the final section is expected to commence, he was told work will start in the first quarter of 2027, following completion of the Integrated Catchment Flood Study.

Cllr Johnston queried why this work is being pushed out to next year, given that works at the St Louis Convent and Aldi have been completed. He thought it a bit disingenuous for the local authority to get other parties to do their own flood remedial works, while the council is still waiting to complete theirs.

Cllr Bronagh McAree (SF) requested that flooding issues on the Blackwater River at Emyvale also be taken into consideration in the planned study.

She said she had raised this issue in October and correspondence was sent to the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Kevin Boxer Moran.

The Minister replied that a channel that formed part of the Blackwater drainage system w as to be inspected to see if further drainage was required.

“I asked for a full report on the inspection but we have received nothing yet,” Cllr McAree stated. She noted that the area in question at Emyvale had flooded two or three times since she first raised the issue, and she was sure they will see a lot more flooding incidents there before the year is out.

It was agreed on Cllr McAree’s proposal to write to the OPW asking them to expedite the Blackwater works and furnish a report to the MD.