The Arterial Drainage Acts of 1945 and 1995 provide the Office of Public Works with powers for drainage and improvement of agricultural land and the undertaking of localised flood defence schemes to reduce flood risk. As such, any request for flood relief should be made to the Office of Public Works.
In relation to possible implications in relation to payments made by my Department under the Basic Payment Scheme, my officials have been in contact with applicants as queries have arisen in relation to the eligibility of the land in question. My officials will continue to deal with such queries on a case-by-case basis.