Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
74. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of flood management schemes in County Cork; the status of delivery of same; the timeline when they will be delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52359/23]
View answerThe Government has assessed the flood risk for those communities most at risk from significant flood events. The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management or CFRAM Programme – Ireland’s largest study of flood risk – was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. An output of the CFRAM Programme, the Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans provide the evidence for a proactive approach for designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at risk communities.
Investment in these schemes is through the €1.3bn for flood relief under the National Development Plan to 2030. This has allowed the OPW to treble the number of flood relief schemes nationally at design, planning, and construction to some 100 schemes. Nationally, 53 schemes have been completed, including Clonakilty and Bandon, at a cost of some €550m 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. Today, work to protect 80% of all at-risk properties nationally is completed or underway.
There are currently ten flood defence schemes being developed for County Cork. The schemes for Ballymakeera, Ballinhassig are at outline design Stage. Midleton, Bantry and Lower Lee are at Stage one which comprises Scheme Development and Preliminary Design and the scheme for Blackpool at Stage two, planning. Morrison’s Island is at detailed design Stage three and the Glashaboy scheme is at Stage four construction. Proposed flood relief schemes for Carrigaline and Macroom are under review to confirm the technical aspects and viability of the schemes and, subject to outcomes, will then progress to Outline Design and Planning.
Commencing on all flood relief schemes identified by the Flood Risk Management Plans is constrained by the availability of the specialist engineering resource required. The Government is committed to delivering other flood relief schemes for Cork including the proposed projects for Ballingeary, Castlemartyr, Castletown Bearhaven, Inchigeelagh, Innishannon, Kanturk, Rathcormack, Schull and Youghal.
The OPW, working closely with the Local Authority, at all times strives to expedite and progress capital flood relief works with the minimum delay within available resources.
