*Previous flooding in Shannon Town.
SHANNON TOWN could be waiting a further five to seven years for construction to commence on its flood defence scheme.
Storm Éowyn has highlighted the need for urgent action in terms of a flood relief scheme in Shannon.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) began development on The Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme in 2020. This scheme aims to protect the town from both coastal and river-based flooding. The existing embankments, built during the 1940s and 1950s, are now inadequate, leaving the area vulnerable to both tidal surges and fluvial flooding.
The project, while essential, faces significant hurdles. The environmental and ecological assessments required for the scheme are intensive, as noted by Alan Farrell, Director of Physical Development with Clare County Council.
He told the January meeting of the Shannon Municipal District, “It’s a slow process and a difficult process. The environmental and ecological side of it is intense,” he said. The complexities of such assessments mean that the scheme is still years away from being fully realised, with estimates pointing to a five to seven year timeline before construction begins”.
Given the urgency of the situation, many feel that this timeline is too long, especially in light of recent extreme weather events, such as Storm Éowyn. With record breaking winds and up to 50mm of rainfall the storm caused localised flooding and underscored the urgent need for flood protection measures to be expedited.
Shannon has a historical flood risk as the town was manufactured at sea level with the Shannon Airport sitting below sea level. The issue of an improved flood relief plan for the town has been an ongoing project but the adverse weather conditions and unprecedented storms from the past few weeks have highlighted the need for urgent action to be taken.
Due to the town’s geographical location and the fact that Shannon Airport sits below sea level, the issue of flood insurance in Shannon has been a deep-rooted concern for decades.
Many homes in the area, some built 50 to 60 years ago, have never had flood insurance, Cllr James Ryan (SF) flagged. “The people living in Shannon who have never had flood insurance on their houses – these are houses built 50 or 60 years ago, and they have never had flood insurance”.
The town’s position below sea level, along with outdated flood risk data from the OPW, has contributed to a situation where adequate flood. The Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme, now in Stage I of its implementation, aims to address these vulnerabilities head-on. The scheme, which follows findings from the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study, proposes a series of flood defences, including walls and embankments along the Shannon Estuary coastline, as well as upgrades to existing infrastructure.
One of the key components of the scheme will focus on enhancing drainage systems and improving outflow capacities, which have been identified as major contributors to flooding in the area. The environmental impact of these changes is a crucial consideration, and extensive consultation with stakeholders, including the local community, is ongoing.
During the second public consultation event in January 2024, residents and local authorities voiced their support for the proposed flood defences but stressed the importance of moving forward with haste given the increasing risk posed by climate change. While the scheme’s full implementation will take time, it represents an essential step in the right direction to safeguard Shannon’s future.
Shannon is not alone in its struggles with flood insurance. On a national scale, there is a growing “Flood Protection Gap,” with many Irish communities facing either unaffordable or unavailable flood insurance.
Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher raised concerns about the lack of adequate flood coverage, calling on insurance companies to play their part in addressing the issue. “This cannot be allowed to continue,” Kelleher emphasised.
According to a report by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI), approximately 5% of homes in Ireland have limited access to flood insurance and that these households are concentrated in five counties, namely Dublin, Cork, Louth, Clare and Kildare.
The broader national issue highlights the need for coordinated action across both local authorities and the insurance industry. Kelleher has advocated for more proactive measures from insurance providers, suggesting that a model similar to schemes in other European countries, where flood coverage is mandatory and insurers are required to offer flood damage products, could help close the protection gap.
“These schemes vary in structure and some are privately funded whilst others have public support However, one common theme is that they have a mandatory nature. That is to say, the insurers must offer a flood damage product, and the households and businesses are obliged to buy protection. This closes the protection gap and at the same time diversifies the risk pool, thereby lowering costs,” said Kelleher.
