Upkeep of Louth rivers up to adjoining land owners

Maintenance of rivers that are not on statutory Drainage District Schemes are the responsibility of adjoining landowners, councillors were informed at the Dundalk Municipal District February meeting.

Cllr Andrea McKevitt had submitted a question for the February meeting, asking, “Is it Louth County Council or the Office of Public Works responsible for maintenance of the River Flurry, at Ravensdale? When is the last time the River Flurry was cleaned prior to the 2023 Halloween Floods?

Replying to Cllr McKevitt, David Jones, Director of Service, Placemaking & Physical Development, said that: “The Flurry River at Ravensdale is not included in any statutory Drainage District Scheme and therefore, river maintenance remains the responsibility of the relevant adjoining landowners.”

At the February meeting, Cllr McKevitt asked if there was any guidelines available in relation to river maintenance, with Senior Executive Engineer Paddy Connolly replying to say he would follow up on that.