Kilkenny County Council signs €2m contract for Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme

Flood relief is finally in sight for Ballyhale, with a contract signing this week to allow the preferred scheme to go to construction.

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Kevin ’Boxer’ Moran visited County Hall, Kilkenny to attend a contract signing event and to welcome the news that Kilkenny County Council has progressed the Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme following the development and identification of a preferred scheme.

Minister Moran said that following the completion of detailed design and procurement for a contractor, construction can now commence and will be carried out by Glas Civil Engineering Ltd.

“The Government is committed to safeguarding the community of Ballyhale by providing funding to construct a flood relief scheme that will withstand a 100-year flood event and upon completion will protect 20 residential and eight commercial properties,” he said.

“The aim is to deliver and provide robust flood protection and peace of mind for local residents and business owners.”

As part of the Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme completed by the OPW in 2018, Ballyhale was identified as one of 300 areas believed to be at significant flood risk. CFRAM recommended a feasible flood relief option for Ballyhale. In November 2018, approval was given to Kilkenny County Council to proceed with the implementation of a flood relief scheme for Ballyhale. The council subsequently appointed DBFL Engineering & Environmental Consultants on March 23, 2020 to develop and design the scheme.

During stage 1 of the process, DBFL carried out a review of the flood protection measures identified under the CFRAM Programme, bringing them to outline design, along with a review of costs and benefits. As part of the Options Assessment and Multi-Criteria Assessment, a range of flood relief options were developed and considered. Four preliminary options were identified and presented to the Council and the OPW in the Options Report, with the preferred option advancing to planning.

Lar Power, Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council welcomed the signing of the Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme contract.

“This marks a significant investment in the safety and wellbeing of the community,” he said. “For many years, residents and businesses have faced the challenges and uncertainty caused by flooding. Today’s contract signing demonstrates our commitment to protecting homes, supporting local enterprise, and strengthening the village’s resilience for future generations.”

This scheme will provide embankments and conveyance improvements through flow diversion from the Ballyhale watercourse to the Little Arrigle River.

Public and stakeholder engagement as well as information days took place after the preferred option emerged. The responses from these events were invaluable to developing the best possible scheme for Ballyhale.

The consultant commenced detailed design in 2025 with the scheme design completed and issued to tender for construction in April 2026.

Carlow-Kilkenny TD and Leas Ceann Comhairle John McGuinness has welcomed the appointment of Glas Civil Engineering Ltd as the contractor for the Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme, describing it as a major milestone for the community and an important step towards providing long-term protection from flooding.

Glas Civil Engineering Ltd is expected to shortly submit its construction programme. It is anticipated that works will commence within approximately three to four weeks.

The scheme, which has a projected cost of just under €2 million, is expected to be substantially completed by Q4 2027.

Welcoming the appointment, Deputy McGuinness said:

“The appointment of the contractor is very welcome news for Ballyhale and represents a significant step forward in delivering this important flood relief project.

“The people and businesses of Ballyhale have experienced the disruption and damage caused by flooding, and this scheme will provide much-needed protection and greater security for the community.

“I am particularly pleased that we are now at the stage where construction is expected to commence within weeks. This is a substantial investment in Ballyhale and one that will deliver lasting benefits for residents, businesses and the wider community.”

The scheme has been designed to provide protection against a 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) event, commonly referred to as a 1-in-100-year flood event.