Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 January 2023
162. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of funding that was allocated for flood relief schemes by local authorities in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1921/23]
View answerI understand the Deputy is referring to the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This provides funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies. Under this scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme. Details of this scheme are available on the OPW website: www.opw.ie.
Since it's inception in 2009, the OPW under this scheme has approved 922 applications with allocated funding of €60.2m, up until end of 2022. Officials from my Department engage regularly with staff in Local Authorities to discuss the progression of solutions to flood risk in their area and continue to encourage Local Authorities to submit applications under this Minor Works scheme.
In 2022, 37 applications were approved by the OPW under this scheme with a total of €2.6m allocated to 15 Local Authorities, as follows:
