Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2018
19. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to prioritise the flood defence needs of the State in the next capital plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2334/18]
View answerThis is to ask the Minister of State about capital spending on flood defence projects and if he will make a statement on the priorities.
A new ten-year capital plan is in the process of being finalised. The plan, which will be published alongside the new national planning framework, Ireland 2040, will set out the Government's intentions on public capital investment beyond 2021. Details on the exact level of funding over the period 2022 to 2027 cannot be confirmed in advance of the publication of the plan.
The Government has committed to significant increased investment in flood risk management in the current capital investment plan for 2016 to 2021 which provides an allocation of €430 million during the lifetime of the current plan. I anticipate that the new capital plan for 2018 to 2027 will provide for a continuation of this increased level of investment in flood risk management to enable the remaining significant flood risk in the country to be addressed.
The Office of Public Works, OPW, is advancing 42 major flood relief schemes under its existing capital programme, with the majority of these to be completed by 2021. More than 100 projects arising from the CFRAM plans will be initiated over the coming years with the intention of completing the majority of the projects over the lifetime of the new capital plan.
If the Deputy asks one supplementary question, we will be able to fit in another question.
That is fine. On the future capital plan, does the Minister of State have a list of projects and their costing which will feed into any deliberations about how much will be needed in future? I know that the projects which are being undertaken come under this capital programme.
There are 130 projects coming from CFRAM, of which 47 prioritise that. I need €1 billion to cover all flood sites.
I call Deputy Brendan Smith. If he is quick we may get to Deputy John Curran's question.
