‘Extensive and in-depth assessment’ of Meath’s coastline due to be presented to councillors

A MAJOR coastal erosion and flood risk management report for East Meath is nearing completion, with RPS Consulting Engineers expected to submit a draft final report to Meath County Council shortly.

The Meath Coastal Flooding and Erosion Risk Management (CFERM) study, which assesses flood and erosion risks along the county’s coastline and sets out long-term recommendations, will then be reviewed by both the council and the Office of Public Works (OPW) ahead of its anticipated finalisation in March 2026.

Council officials said the study represents a very extensive and in-depth assessment of the entire Meath coastline. As outlined by RPS at a detailed presentation to councillors at a municipal district meeting in May last year, the work has involved nine separate stages of analysis, with the draft final report marking the culmination of that process.

The OPW has been involved throughout the development of the plan, providing guidance and comments at each key project stage. This collaboration and co-operation is expected to continue beyond the finalisation of the report, particularly as the recommendations move towards progression and implementation.

Meath County Council’s Environment Department has also indicated that a further update on the CFERM project will be provided to councillors at the February 2026 Bettystown/Laytown Municipal District meeting.

Concerns about coastal erosion and flooding along the east Meath coastline have been raised repeatedly by residents and public representatives in recent years, particularly in areas such as Bettystown and Laytown which have experienced significant flooding events. In May of last year, council engineers briefed councillors on proposed flood defence works for the area, describing progress on the issue as “a long time coming”.

That briefing followed severe flooding in August 2023, when a combination of intense rainfall and high tides left dozens of homes inundated in Bettystown, causing widespread damage and distress for residents. At the time, councillors stressed the urgent need for both interim measures and longer-term solutions to protect vulnerable coastal communities.

The forthcoming CFERM report is expected to play a central role in shaping future flood defence and coastal protection measures in east Meath, with councillors and residents alike awaiting clarity on timelines and next steps once the plan is finalised.

Meanwhile, a Duleek restaurant owner said she thought sandbags had protected her eatery from Storm Chandra floods until the water started seeping up through the floors inside.

Ciara Burke had to shutter her Sage & Stone restaurant last week until dehumidifiers dried out her saturated concrete floors. She says that is the first time in over 50 years that she has seen flood waters rise as far as her premises which lie across the road from the local river Nanny.

“I walked into the business on Wednesday with my wellies on because the carpark was like a lake and there was a river coming down into it from the road,” she said.