Fianna Fáil TD for Louth Erin McGreehan has said that while significant progress is being made on flood relief measures across the county, continued urgency is needed to prevent thousands of homes from being impacted by flooding.
Deputy McGreehan said she has received confirmation that the Office of Public Works is currently leading the delivery of five major flood relief schemes across County Louth, covering Dundalk and Blackrock South, Drogheda, Carlingford and Greenore, Baltray and Ardee. The projects are at various stages of development.
During a recent exchange with Minister Jack Chambers during Dáil questions, the Louth TD was told that substantial progress is being made on a number of these schemes under the State’s catchment based Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme.
Speaking afterwards, Deputy McGreehan said river flooding poses a serious threat to thousands of homes across the country, adding that changing weather patterns mean more properties are at risk than ever before.
She said it is essential that the State remains prepared in order to give homeowners peace of mind. She added that the risk is not hypothetical, pointing to incidents in recent years where homes have been severely affected by flooding, including an incident in Dublin last year where part of a house collapsed into the Camac River.
During the Dáil exchange, the Minister confirmed that funding of €339,480 for flood relief works in Ardee was approved by the OPW in July 2025. The works are expected to protect approximately 30 properties and are being progressed by Louth County Council, with completion anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The Dundalk and Blackrock South Flood Relief Scheme, which is designed to protect around 1,880 properties, is currently progressing through the design and environmental assessment stages. Design options are due to be presented to the public in the first quarter of 2026, with a preferred option expected to be identified by mid 2026.
The Drogheda and Baltray Flood Relief Scheme, which will protect an estimated 425 properties, has advanced following additional modelling work. Emerging options for this scheme are expected to be presented to the public in the second quarter of 2026.
In Carlingford, OPW funded works at Brown’s Lane and Newry Street have now been completed and are already helping to reduce surface water flooding. Further measures are currently being assessed to improve the wider drainage system in the area.
Concluding, Deputy McGreehan said that while the progress made to date is encouraging, thousands of homes across Louth remain at risk until the projects are fully completed. She said renewed urgency in 2026 is needed to ensure the timely delivery of the flood relief schemes and to provide homeowners with reassurance that their homes are protected.
