Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 June 2023
78. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the details of planned flood protection works to be carried out by the Office of Public Works in the next five years; the costs associated with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28725/23]
View answerIn 2018, to establish those communities that are at risk from significant flood events, the OPW completed the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State: the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme studied 80% of Ireland’s primary flood risk and identified solutions that can protect over 95% of that risk. Some 150 additional flood relief schemes were identified through this Programme.
The Irish Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of these flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2021- 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities throughout the country, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning and construction to some 98 schemes at this time. Details of these ongoing schemes are available from the website address provided below.
The implementation of flood relief projects is a very complex process with significant challenges and opportunities to deliver added value beyond the core objective of the project. Designing a technical solution, ensuring a robust approach to the environmental assessments, and meeting other regulatory requirements are essential to both inform the best scheme and to reduce the risk of challenges to a proposed scheme.
In addition to the schemes already underway, under the national programme of investment, work has yet to commence on some 50 Tranche II schemes. The OPW is keen to agree a planned national approach to future schemes that matches return on investment from the available capacity between the local authorities and OPW.
In Spring 2023, senior managers in OPW’s Flood Risk Management team met and discussed with Director of Services of local authorities the experiences and challenges with delivering the flood relief schemes at design, planning and construction. The discussion also considered the opportunities to improve efficiencies and timelines with delivering the next round of schemes.
Arising from and informed by these meetings, on 2 May 2023, I announced that the OPW is piloting a new delivery model for flood relief schemes in counties Donegal and Kilkenny. The Pilot will better inform the prioritisation of future schemes and the scope of services required from consultants to design and construct flood relief schemes.
In addition to the flood relief schemes noted above, the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme provides funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation or coastal protection works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. This scheme provides 90% funding to local authorities to manage localised flood risk. This scheme can provide temporary measures for at-risk communities pending the delivery of a major flood relief scheme for their area.
Information on the status of flood relief schemes and data on Minor Works is available at www.floodinfo.ie/.
