Two Roscommon councillors have sought a fresh examination of lands designated as being at risk of flooding in Roscommon Town following significant drainage and flood-related works in recent years.
Cllr John Keogh tabled a motion at Monday’s special meeting of Roscommon County Council calling for a “full review” of areas of the town deemed liable to flooding.
In his formal motion, Cllr Keogh pointed to the €20m drainage programme commenced by Irish Water in November 2021, together with works carried out by Roscommon County Council on the River Jiggy and at Ballinagard Bridge.
He called for the Council to “carry out a full review of areas of Roscommon Town deemed liable to flooding” in light of that investment and the subsequent works.
Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice also raised the issue as part of his own proposed amendments to the County Development Plan.
“I also request the planning authority take into consideration recent drainage works on the River Jiggy and its tributaries in their assessment of lands identified as flood zones in Roscommon Town,” his motion states.
However, the planning and flood-risk material accompanying the proposed Development Plan variation makes clear that the completion of flood defence or drainage works does not automatically result in land being removed from a designated flood zone.
The Chief Executive’s report notes that flood zones are defined without taking account of the presence of flood defences, and states that even imminent flood-relief schemes will not in themselves alter the flood zoning of the areas they protect.
The report also references the 2018 Flood Risk Management Plan for Roscommon Town, which identified potential measures including 2,065 metres of flood defence walls, 350 metres of embankment and an upgrade to the existing culvert along the N63 Galway Road at the Ballinagard tributary.
The Council’s existing Development Plan commits it to supporting implementation of the CFRAM flood-risk programme and working with the Office of Public Works on flood-relief schemes.
