Public Information Day
CLOSING PUBLIC INFORMATION DAY
Wednesday 21st October 2026, 4pm – 8pm at The Highlands Hotel, Glenties Co. Donegal
Donegal County Council as the Contracting Authority, in partnership with the Office of Public Works (OPW) previously held an Opening Public Consultation event two in November 2020. This was hosted online due to the COVID-19 Government restrictions. At that time, the Project Team asked for information on any possible constraints and what the considerations should be in the development of a flood relief scheme for Glenties.
Current Position of the Project
The Glenties Flood Relief Scheme has since completed Stage I, Scheme Analysis and Development. The purpose of this work was to investigate the causes and extent of flood risk at Glenties and to identify potential measures that could help reduce the impact of flooding on local properties, roads, infrastructure and the wider community.
As part of this process, a range of possible flood relief approaches were considered and assessed against technical, environmental, social and economic criteria.
Outcome of Stage 1
The Stage I assessment has not identified a single “hard engineering” flood relief scheme that is considered technically, socially, environmentally and economically acceptable for Glenties.
This means that the current flood relief scheme is not proposed to progress beyond Stage I. This decision has been reached following consideration of the available options and the findings of the assessments undertaken to date.
Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) Pilot Study
A Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for Catchment Management Pilot Study has been completed. This study considered how measures that work with natural processes could potentially contribute to managing water within the upstream Stracashel catchment.
Nature-based solutions may include measures such as improvements to natural drainage pathways, wetland creation or enhancement, tree and hedgerow planting, reconnecting rivers with their floodplains, management of runoff, and other measures that can help slow, store or intercept water within the catchment.
Depending on their suitability and location, such measures may also provide wider environmental and community benefits, including improvements to biodiversity, habitat, landscape character, water quality and climate resilience.
The Pilot Study has identified a potential roadmap for exploring nature-based approaches across the catchment. However, it is important to emphasise at this stage that whilst no specific NbS project has been committed to, multiple State agencies, including the Office of Public Works and Donegal County Council remain committed to progressing the work of the pilot through seed funding and community support.
Your views are important
The Project Team recognises the importance of keeping the community informed and ensuring that local views are considered.
Although the current flood relief scheme is not proposed to advance beyond Stage I, the potential for catchment-based and nature-based approaches is being explored. Any future work would need to be developed carefully, transparently and in consultation with those who may be affected.
We encourage landowners, residents, community representatives and other stakeholders to attend the Public Information Day to review the work completed and to provide feedback on the potential implementation of Nature-based Solutions in the Stracashel catchment.