Projects represent a major investment in flood protection

AHEAD of the upcoming storm season, South Dublin County Council, in partnership with the OPW and Dublin City Council, is progressing a programme of flood risk management investment across the County to protect vulnerable homes, businesses and communities from flooding.

Currently, there are two OPW-funded Flood Alleviation Schemes under construction in the county and another at the planning and design stage, demonstrating a “sustained commitment to strengthening flood resilience and reducing long-term flood risk.”

One of the schemes, the River Poddle Flood Alleviation Scheme, currently has 87 per cent of its overall flood defences installed, including 96 per cent of the works within the SDCC administrative area.

By the end of 2026, the flood defence infrastructure is expected to be substantially completed, with Stage 4 said to be completed by the end of Q3 2027, following commissioning and landscaping works.

The Whitechurch Stream Flood Alleviation Scheme has reached 78 per cent completion of the overall flood defence works, with construction progressing.

Flood defences are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, while final commissioning and landscaping activities will continue on this scheme into 2027.

The Camac Flood Alleviation Scheme, led by Dublin City Council, is currently progressing through Stage 1 Preliminary Design.

The options report on this project is expected to be completed by the end of Q3 2027 as the development of the options report continues.

SDCC stated that each of these projects “represent a major investment in flood protection infrastructure and will deliver long-term benefits by enhancing the County’s resilience to future flood events.”

Alongside these schemes, SDCC also operates a programme of “road sweeping, gully inspection and drainage maintenance across the entire road network, which includes residential areas and industrial estates, to help maintain the road network and reduce the risk of localised flooding.”

In addition to the routine gully cleansing programme, SDCC undertakes drainage maintenance works on its 950km stormwater drainage network to ensure that “available resources are directed to the highest priority locations and supports the effective operation of the County’s stormwater drainage network.”

SDCC’s Flooding Emergency Plan and Severe Weather Plan provide a framework for coordinated preparedness and response, setting out enhanced mobilisation procedures and regional coordination protocols that can be activated as required during severe weather events.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme