Background
The Flood Defence Scheme is being progressed as an Arterial Drainage Scheme as set out in the Arterial Drainage Acts of 1945 and 1995. This legislation allows the OPW and its agents, Wexford County Council, to proceed with the construction of the scheme following Public Exhibition and Confirmation of the scheme by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Enniscorthy has a long history of flooding and following the extreme flood event which occurred in 2000, the Office of Public Works (OPW) in conjunction with Wexford County Council undertook a study of the flooding problem in the town.
A preliminary design for the scheme was developed and exhibited for public consultation in 2009. In response to feedback from the public, the design was improved and the scheme went on public display in 2012 and again in 2018. The detailed design has commenced and has taken into consideration the comments and suggestions received. The developed scheme was presented at the Public Exhibition in Enniscorthy Library between the 17th May to 18th June 2019.
In March 2020, the Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme was submitted by the Office of Public Works to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for formal Confirmation, under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts, accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS).
This was followed by a Foreshore Consent Application.
In November 2020, the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform requested supplementary environmental information ( SEI ) to be provided in respect of the scheme. This information was submitted to the Department in April 2021.”
