Q: How has the scheme been funded?
A: The OPW is providing funding for the initial phases of the project (feasibility and initial design) and will also fund construction works when planning permission has been .
Q: What is the purpose of the scheme?
A: The scheme will improve the standard of flood protection for Castleconnell to protect against the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (1 in-100 year) fluvial (river) flood event and will take appropriate account of the unique flow conditions that are experienced in Castleconnell downstream of Parteen Weir.
A: For the design and implementation of flood relief schemes, OPW’s preferred approach is to adopt a “Managed Adaptive Approach”.
This means that provision is made in the design of the scheme in the present day to allow it to be adapted or enhanced in the future to address climate change. The advantage of the “managed adaptive approach” is that it allows for future learning about the climate to inform on the design of flood mitigation measures for future climate scenarios. The most technically, environmentally and economically viable flood protection scheme that addresses future flood risk can therefore be implemented at the appropriate point in time in the future.
The scheme will defend against the present-day flood risk and will be built to be adaptable to future climate change. This means that the fluvial and tidal direct defences will be constructed to be extendable (demountable or permanent), depending on the increase in levels/flow that may arise in future. Should upstream storage be the part of the final scheme, the storage will be designed to be extendable in the future.
We are developing a project specific Climate Change Adaptability Plan, which will consider how climate change will impact future flood events and how the scheme will be adapted to meet the required standard in the future. This will be a live document and updated throughout the project lifespan.
Q: Is there anything planned for other parts of County Limerick?
A: The OPW commissioned a series of Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Studies, including the Shannon Upper and Lower River Basin CFRAM Study. This looked at flood risk and its management across other towns and villages in Limerick and along the River Shannon. The Upper and Lower Shannon CFRAM Study resulted in publication of a Flood Risk Assessment and Management Plan which outlined flood management measures for other towns. As a result of the FRMP, OPW have prioritised schemes for Castleconnell, Adare, Athea, Kings Island, Limerick City and Environs More information on the CFRAM Studies can be found on the project website http://www.floodinfo.ie/.
Q: Will the scheme increase the risk of flooding in other places?
A: No, this will be a key consideration in our design. We will consider the impacts on Castleconnell as a whole, rather than focusing on the places that flooded in 2009 and are predicted to flood, to ensure that any works completed as part of this a scheme do not increase the flood risk to surrounding lands.
Q: Am I at risk of flooding?
A: You can look at the flood maps on the OPW’s CFRAM website to see the flood extents for Castleconnell and other towns within the CFRAM study area http://www.floodinfo.ie/.
Further, more detailed modelling was undertaken as part of the Flood Relief Scheme and mapping will be made available on the Project Documents page in the coming months.
Q: Who can help?
A: The OPW provides advice for people whose properties and businesses are at risk of flooding. For more information, and to help you prepare, click here (link to https://www.opw.ie/en/floodriskmanagement/)
A: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has no responsibility for oversight or regulation of the insurance industry in terms of flood risk insurance, or for insurance matters generally. The Government's strategy is that in return to its investment in flood defence schemes in the most at risk communities, households and businesses should be able to access flood insurance.
The OPW has a role to assist insurance companies to take into account the protection provided by completed flood defence schemes. In this regard, the OPW has a Memorandum of Understanding with Insurance Ireland, the representative body of the insurance industry. This Memorandum sets out the principles of how the two organisations work together to ensure that appropriate and relevant information on these completed schemes is provided to insurers to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, the availability to the public of insurance against the risk of flooding. While the Memorandum does not guarantee the availability of insurance, Insurance Ireland members have committed to take into account all information provided by the OPW when assessing exposure to flood risk within these protected areas. The Department Finance and the OPW meet with Insurance Ireland regularly in relation to this transfer of data.
The insurance industry has its own flood modelling tools for assessing the level of risk that it is willing to underwrite in relation to individual properties. The decision on whether to offer insurance, the level of premiums charged and the policy terms applied are matters for individual insurers. Insurance companies make commercial decisions on the provision of insurance cover based on their assessment of the risks they would be accepting on a case-by-case basis.
Insurance related complaints or queries may be directed to Insurance Ireland's Insurance Information Service (01 676 1914 or feedback@insuranceireland.eu). In addition, the Financial Services Ombudsman (1890 88 20 90) deals independently with unresolved complaints from consumers about their individual dealings with all financial service providers.
Q: How can I find out more about the study?
A: We will be keeping this website updated with the latest news and details of forthcoming public consultation events. You can also use the 'Contact us' page to ask a question or provide feedback, or register to be emailed with project updates.
