Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
60. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to outline the steps he is taking to expedite flood relief schemes in order to protect residents, businesses and local communities at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30985/23]
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.
The implementation of flood relief projects is a very complex process with significant challenges. 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.
Since 1995, significant progress has been made by the OPW on flood relief schemes/measures. To date, 53 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 12,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €1.9 billion.
There are also currently some 98 active flood relief schemes being progressed through the various stages from scheme development (stage 1) through planning, detailed design (stage 3), construction and handover (stage 5). Eight of these active flood relief schemes are currently at construction stage, including Cois Abhainn in Westport, Co. Mayo. Once completed, these schemes will provide flood protection to approximately 1,700 properties.
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. On 2nd May 2023, I announced that the OPW is piloting a new delivery model for flood relief schemes which will better inform the future Tranche II schemes delivery.
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.
Information on the status of flood relief schemes and data on Minor Works is available at www.floodinfo.ie.
