Flood Risk Assessment in Monaghan
Expert flood risk assessments for planning applications throughout County Monaghan. From Monaghan Town and Castleblayney to Carrickmacross, Clones and Ballybay, we assess river, lake and groundwater flood risk.
Get a Quote or call 087 417 3832 or WhatsAppIf we can’t answer, please leave a message or send a WhatsApp — we’ll get back to you.Do I need a Flood Risk Assessment for planning in Monaghan?
Yes, if your site is in or near Flood Zone A or B, or Monaghan County Council has requested flood risk information at Further Information stage. The Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031 and its Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (Appendix 19) apply the 2009 Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines. In Monaghan that usually means small rivers and lakes such as Lough Muckno, the Ulster Canal in Monaghan Town, and karst groundwater flooding.
Flood Risk Assessment for Monaghan Planning Applications
If you're submitting a planning application to Monaghan County Council and your site is in or near a flood zone, you'll need a Flood Risk Assessment that satisfies the requirements of the Monaghan County Development Plan 2025-2031 and the Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines.
Monaghan's flood risk comes from many small rivers and lakes rather than one large catchment. Monaghan County Council's SFRA names the Blackwater, Finn, Dromore, Fane, Glyde and Proules rivers, Lough Muckno at Castleblayney, and the Ulster Canal, which has flooded adjacent development in Monaghan Town. It records flooding in November 2009 and in December 2015 to January 2016 across Castleblayney, Clones, Glaslough, Ballybay and Carrickmacross, and identifies karst features and turloughs.
- Lough Muckno and Castleblayney
- Ulster Canal and the Shambles/Blackwater (Monaghan Town)
- Fane, Glyde and Proules rivers (south Monaghan, Inniskeen)
- Ballybay and Clones town flood zones
- Turloughs and karst groundwater (e.g. Lisnagunnion)
What's Included
Every FRA we complete for Monaghan sites includes:
Stage 1, 2 & 3 Assessments
Proper methodology using OPW flood mapping and modelling data. Where data is limited or outdated, we undertake bespoke hydraulic modelling (1D/2D HEC-RAS).
Multi-Source Analysis
River, lake, canal and groundwater flood risk assessed together, as Monaghan sites often face more than one source.
FFL Comparison
Your proposed finished floor levels compared against design flood levels plus freeboard.
Development Plan Compliance
Explicit demonstration of compliance with Monaghan County Development Plan flood risk policies.
Further Information Requests
Received an FI request from Monaghan County Council asking for flood risk information? We regularly handle urgent FI responses for Monaghan sites. Typical turnaround is 7–10 working days — often faster for straightforward sites.
Key Documents for Monaghan Flood Risk Assessments
Every FRA we prepare for a Monaghan site is assessed against the development plan and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) of the relevant planning authority, the national flood risk guidelines, and the latest OPW flood data:
Monaghan County Council
- Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031 (as varied)
- Appendix 19: Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, Monaghan County Development Plan 2025–2031 (May 2025)
National guidance and flood data
- The Planning System and Flood Risk Management – Guidelines for Planning Authorities (DoEHLG & OPW, November 2009)
- The Planning System and Flood Risk Management – Technical Appendices (November 2009)
- Circular PL 2/2014 – Flooding Guidelines (revised Section 5.28 on minor development)
- OPW Flood Maps – floodinfo.ie (CFRAM, NIFM and NCFHM flood mapping)
- Geological Survey Ireland – GWFlood groundwater flood maps (historic and predictive)
Links open the official source documents. Development plans are periodically varied, so we always check the current version and any variation SFRA when preparing your report.
Monaghan Flood Risk Assessment FAQs
Has Monaghan flooded recently?
Yes. Monaghan County Council's SFRA records flooding at Lough Muckno and in Monaghan Town in November 2009, and between December 2015 and January 2016 in Castleblayney (including Annadrumman), Clones, Glaslough, Ballybay and Carrickmacross.
Is groundwater flooding a risk in Monaghan?
In places. The SFRA records a karst underground channel at Lisnagunnion and lists several turloughs, and notes two Geological Survey Ireland predicted groundwater flood areas outside the towns. We check the GSI maps for sites on limestone.
Are flood relief schemes planned in Monaghan?
The SFRA notes that proposed schemes for Ballybay, Inniskeen and Monaghan Town had not been implemented when it was prepared in May 2025. Sites in these areas should be assessed against the current flood levels.
Can I get planning permission in Flood Zone A in Monaghan?
Possibly. Under the 2009 Guidelines, highly vulnerable development such as housing in Flood Zone A must pass the Development Management Justification Test, and Monaghan County Council will expect a site-specific FRA to show the development, its occupants and its access are safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere. Minor development such as small extensions, small-scale infill and changes of use is treated differently under Circular PL 2/2014: the Justification Test does not apply, but a commensurate flood risk assessment is still required.
How long does a Flood Risk Assessment take in Monaghan?
Typically 7–10 working days from instruction for a Stage 2 assessment, and often faster for straightforward sites. If Monaghan County Council has issued a Further Information request with a deadline, tell us when you get in touch and we will prioritise it. Stage 3 assessments with hydraulic modelling take longer and are scoped per site.
Need an FRA for a Monaghan Site?
Send us your site address and we'll provide a fixed-price quote, typically within 24 hours.
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