Abstract: This data shows Arterial Drainage Scheme (ADS) Benefiting Areas associated with the schemes constructed under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 & 1995, that OPW have a statutory obligation to maintain. The benefited lands identifies land that was drained as part of the Arterial Drainage Schemes, which typically was performed to improve land for agricultural purposes. In the early schemes, large areas of bog were drained which facilitated peat extraction for fuel and horticulture and these are identified separately. Arterial Drainage Schemes were carried out under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 to improve land for agricultural purposes. The Act was amended on a number of occasions, for example to transpose EU Regulations and Directives such as the EIA, SEA, and Habitats Directives and the Aarhus Convention. The Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act, 1995 further allows for the implementation of localised flood relief schemes to provide flood protection for cities, towns and villages. Statutory Arterial Drainage Maintenance entails the maintenance of completed Arterial Drainage Schemes and completed Flood Relief Schemes. The OPW are responsible for the maintenance of 11,500km of channel, 800km of embankments, some 19,000 bridges and further ancillary structures such as weirs, sluice barrages, sluices, pumping stations and tidal flap gates.

Purpose: This data has been developed to support the maintenance of Arterial Drainage Schemes carried out under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 & 1995, that OPW has a statutory obligation to maintain. These schemes were carried out to improve land for agriculture and to mitigate flooding in urban areas.