Background: Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch (Counties Kilkenny and Carlow) is a prosperous cultural settlement with circa 1,500 inhabitants. During the summer, it becomes a busy tourist location. Kilkenny County Council, as the Lead Authority, in partnership with Carlow County Council and OPW, appointed ByrneLooby, An Ayesa Company, in March 2020 as principal environmental and engineering consultants for this scheme.
Challenges: The public and all stakeholders are essential to guarantee the scheme's success. The planning process has become significantly more challenging in recent years, and ByrneLooby has met this challenge through attention to detail and public/stakeholder engagement to ensure proposals are compatible with the relevant legislation. To progress the preliminary design of the scheme, the team has prepared a detailed planning submission under Section 177AE of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) to obtain approval to complete a site investigation contract.
ByrneLooby prepared and submitted the AA screening, Natura Impact Statement, and all other planning documentation and applied it to An Bord Pleanála (the regulatory authority) for approval to complete the works in July 2021. Permission was granted in September 2022. ByrneLooby is currently overseeing the site investigation works by performing the Employer's Representative role for the works, which are due to commence by the end of October.
Habitat Protection: Our flood relief schemes strive to combine resilient engineering with minimal environmental impact and positive community benefits. This project intends to guide the settlement's future growth in a sustainable manner. For that, exploratory site investigation works are required in the protected European habitat site known as the River Barrow and River Nore Special Area of Conservation (SAC), where species such as Salmon, Twaite Shad, and Freshwater Pearl mussels are protected. The proposed works include several instream trial pits to establish the in-stream riverbed conditions and the footing details on a structure built along the River Duiske. We recommended both cultural heritage and ecological monitoring of the works to ensure these aspects are protected during the works.
When developing and delivering a flood relief scheme, our team of engineering and environmental experts provides consulting services and advice across all stages of the scheme lifecycle. Some of the Flood relief schemes we are helping to deliver:
1.Arklow FRS, Wicklow(€26m - Major Scheme)
2. Bandon FRS, Cork (€20.5, Major Scheme)
3. Crookstown FRS, Cork (€1m - Major Scheme)
4. Springfield FRS, Clare (€1.1m - Major Scheme)
5. River Dodder FRS Phase 3, Dublin (€4m - Major Scheme)
6. Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch FRS, Kilkenny (€9.5m - Major Scheme)
7. Ballyvaughan FRS, Clare (Minor Scheme)
8. Curraheen, FRS Cork (Minor Scheme)
9. Ballybofey-Stranorlar FRS Donegal (€1.9m Major Scheme)
About the OPW
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is an Irish government office whose primary function is to support the implementation of government policy. The OPW advises the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister of State at that department, principally in the disciplines of property (including heritage properties) and flood risk management. More here.
About Ayesa
ByrneLooby is part of Ayesa. Ayesa is a global provider of IT and engineering services with over 6,300 employees and offices in 20 countries. The company develops and implements digital solutions for the private and public sectors and uses the latest technology to provide cutting-edge infrastructure design and supervision services. Visit: https://www.ayesa.com/en/