Flood Risk Assessment in Roscommon
Expert flood risk assessments for planning applications throughout County Roscommon. From the Shannon and Lough Ree to Boyle, Castlerea, Ballaghaderreen and the county's turloughs, 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 Roscommon?
Yes, if your site is in or near Flood Zone A or B, near a turlough, or Roscommon County Council has requested flood risk information at Further Information stage. The Roscommon County Development Plan 2022–2028 and its Strategic Flood Risk Assessment apply the 2009 Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines. In Roscommon that usually means the Shannon and Lough Ree, the Suck catchment and, very often, karst groundwater flooding that standard river maps do not show.
Flood Risk Assessment for Roscommon Planning Applications
If you're submitting a planning application to Roscommon 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 Roscommon County Development Plan 2022-2028 and the Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines.
Roscommon is bounded by the Shannon and Lough Ree to the east and underlain by karst limestone that produces some of Ireland's most persistent groundwater flooding. Lough Funshinagh, a turlough, rose above previous records in the winters of 2009/10 and 2015/16, and in winter 2023/24 flooded about 500 hectares and destroyed a dwelling. Roscommon County Council's SFRA maps flood zones for settlements including Ballaghaderreen, Castlerea, Elphin and Strokestown.
- River Shannon and Lough Ree shoreline
- Turlough and karst groundwater flooding (e.g. Lough Funshinagh)
- River Suck catchment
- Settlement flood zones (Ballaghaderreen, Castlerea, Elphin, Strokestown)
- Shannon at Carrick-on-Shannon (Cortober)
What's Included
Every FRA we complete for Roscommon 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 Where data is limited or outdated, we undertake bespoke hydraulic modelling (1D/2D HEC-RAS).
Groundwater & Lake Analysis
GSI groundwater flood maps for turloughs and karst, and Shannon and Lough Ree levels with climate change allowances.
FFL Comparison
Your proposed finished floor levels compared against design flood levels plus freeboard.
Development Plan Compliance
Explicit demonstration of compliance with Roscommon County Development Plan flood risk policies.
Further Information Requests
Received an FI request from Roscommon County Council asking for flood risk information? We regularly handle urgent FI responses for Roscommon sites. Typical turnaround is 7–10 working days — often faster for straightforward sites.
Key Documents for Roscommon Flood Risk Assessments
Every FRA we prepare for a Roscommon 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:
Roscommon County Council
- Roscommon County Development Plan 2022–2028 – Proposed Variation No. 1 (council notice)
- Settlement Flood Zones – Roscommon County Development Plan 2022–2028 (SFRA mapping, data.gov.ie)
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)
- Geological Survey Ireland – Groundwater flooding in Co. Roscommon
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.
Roscommon Flood Risk Assessment FAQs
Why is groundwater flooding such an issue in Roscommon?
Much of Roscommon sits on karst limestone, where turloughs fill from below in wet winters. Lough Funshinagh rose above previous records in 2009/10 and 2015/16, and in winter 2023/24 flooded about 500 hectares, according to Roscommon County Council. We check the GSI historic and predictive groundwater flood maps for any site on or near limestone lowlands.
How is Shannon and Lough Ree flooding assessed?
We use OPW CFRAM design flood levels for the Shannon and Lough Ree, cross-checked against recorded winter levels and the council's SFRA flood zones. Shannon floods rise slowly and last for weeks, so the FRA focuses on floor levels with freeboard and climate change, and on safe access during prolonged events.
Which flood maps does Roscommon County Council use?
The council's SFRA settlement flood zone maps (published on data.gov.ie), OPW flood mapping on floodinfo.ie, and Geological Survey Ireland groundwater flood maps. An FRA should reference all three where relevant.
Can I get planning permission in Flood Zone A in Roscommon?
Possibly. Under the 2009 Guidelines, highly vulnerable development such as housing in Flood Zone A must pass the Development Management Justification Test, and Roscommon 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 Roscommon?
Typically 7–10 working days from instruction for a Stage 2 assessment, and often faster for straightforward sites. If Roscommon 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 Roscommon Site?
Send us your site address and we'll provide a fixed-price quote, typically within 24 hours.
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