Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 May 2023
30. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the allocation to Monaghan County Council in relation to flood alleviation measures in 2022 and to date in 2023. [22042/23]
View answerI am advised that Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. All local authorities may carry out flood mitigation or alleviation works, within their own capital works programme and using their own resources, or by applying for funding under the Office of Public Works Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding within their areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. Under the 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, including a cost benefit ratio.
The scheme is demand led and the funding has always been available to cover eligible applications submitted by the Local Authorities and will continue to be available on this basis in 2023.
Since the inception of the Minor Works Scheme in 2009, Monaghan County Council has received approximately €2.5million in funding. No requests for funding have been received from Monaghan County Council since 2021. I and my Office promote and encourage local authorities to avail of the funding under the scheme to address such localised flooding issues.
The OPW guidelines for funding applications under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, together with a full list of funding approvals since 2009 is available on the OPW website, www.floodinfo.ie.
