Flood Relief Schemes

Thursday, 8 February 2024

Questions (102)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

102. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to list all the flood relief schemes nationally, county by county, and indicate the stage of development each is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5518/24]

View answer

Oral answers (8 contributions)

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan

I ask the Minister of State to list all the flood relief schemes county by county and outline the stage of development each is at. He might give me the national figures and the stages they are at, and I can get the county-by-county list afterwards in the written response.

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan

I will not read into the record the start of the response because I have done so three times already today. I will skip that and I ask that it be put on the record.

The OPW will reach a series of important milestones in climate adaptation in 2024, such as: continuing the construction of three major schemes at Glashaboy in the Deputy’s constituency, Morell River and Whitechurch; commencing construction on up to five other schemes at King’s Island, Morrison’s Island in Cork, Crossmolina, about which there has been a bit of conversation, the Poddle River and the River Wad; and progressing up to three further schemes towards substantial completion at Athlone, Springfield and Templemore. These schemes will provide protection to over 600 properties.

Outside of these major schemes, as the Deputy knows, local authorities can apply to the Office of Public Works for minor flood mitigation works and the coastal protection scheme. This provides up to 90% of the funding required and, so far, has protected 7,900 properties.

I will outline a county-by-county breakdown of the major flood relief schemes that are currently being progressed. In Cavan, there is a scheme at Cavan town, which is at stage 1. In Clare, there is Kilkee, which is at stage 1; Shannon; and Springfield, which is almost at completion. In Cork, there is Ballinhassig, which is at stage 1; Ballymakeery-Ballyvourney, which is at stage 1; Bantry; the Bride River-Blackpool, about which there has been some conversation in the House; Carrigaline; Glashaboy, which is under construction; the lower Lee, which is an enormous scheme that the Deputy will know; Macroom; Midleton; and Morrison’s Island, which has gone out to tender. In Donegal, there is Ballybofey-Stranorlar; Buncrana; Burnfoot; Castlefinn; Donegal Town; Letterkenny; Lifford; Ramelton; and Raphoe. In Dublin, there is the Dodder; Dublin city; Loughlinstown; Malahide; the Poddle River; Portmarnock; Sandymount, which is at the scoping stage; Skerries; and Whitechurch, which is at stage 4.

I will come back to the other counties in my next contribution.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

A county-by-county breakdown of the major flood relief schemes and small flood relief projects that are currently being progressed is provided in the tables, including the current status or stage of each scheme. The 12 flood relief schemes that have reached substantial completion since 2018 are also listed.

Table 1. Major Flood Relief Schemes by County with Scheme Stage.

County	Scheme	Status
Cavan	Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Clare	Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Clare	Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Clare	Springfield Flood Relief Scheme	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Cork	Ballinhassig Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Cork	Ballymakeery/Ballyvourney Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Cork	Bantry Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Cork	Bride River (Blackpool) Flood Relief Scheme	Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation
Cork	Carrigaline Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Cork	Glashaboy (Glanmire / Sallybrook) Flood Relief Scheme	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Cork	Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme	Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation
Cork	Macroom Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Cork	Midleton Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Cork	Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project, Cork	Stage III: Detailed Design
Donegal	Ballybofey - Stranorlar Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Donegal	Buncrana - Luddan Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Donegal	Burnfoot Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Donegal	Castlefinn Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Donegal	Donegal Town Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Donegal	Letterkenny Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Donegal	Lifford Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Donegal	Ramelton Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Donegal	Raphoe Flood Relief Scheme	Stage II: Public Exhibition / Confirmation
Dublin	Camac River Flood Alleviation Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Dublin	Dodder Phase 3 (Clonskeagh Road Bridge to Orwell Road Bridge) Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Dublin	Dublin City (River Wad - Phase 1B) Flood Relief Scheme	Stage III: Detailed Design
Dublin	Loughlinstown Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Dublin	Malahide Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Dublin	Poddle River Flood Alleviation Scheme	Stage III: Detailed Design
Dublin	Portmarnock (Strand Road) Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Dublin	Sandymount (Phase 1 & 2) Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Dublin	Sandymount (Phase 2) Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Dublin	Skerries (Mill Stream) Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Dublin	Whitechurch Stream Flood Alleviation Scheme	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Galway	Ballinasloe Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Galway	Galway City Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Galway	South Galway (Gort Lowlands) Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Kerry	Kenmare Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Kerry	Tralee Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Kildare	Athy Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Kildare	Morell River Flood Management Scheme	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Kildare	Naas Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Kilkenny	Freshford Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Kilkenny	Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Kilkenny	Piltown Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Laois	Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Laois	Portarlington Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Leitrim	Carrick on Shannon Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Limerick	Adare Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Limerick	Castleconnell Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Limerick	Kings Island Flood Relief Scheme	Stage III: Detailed Design
Limerick	Limerick City & Environs Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Louth	Baltray Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Louth	Carlingford & Greenore Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Louth	Drogheda Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Louth	Dundalk and Ardee Flood Relief Schemes	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Mayo	Ballina Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Mayo	Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme	Stage III: Detailed Design
Roscommon	Lough Funshinagh Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Tipperary	Marlfield Lake Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Tipperary	Nenagh Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping Stage
Tipperary	River Mall (Templemore) Flood Relief Scheme	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Westmeath	Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme	Stage IV: Implementation/Construction
Wexford	Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Wexford	Rosslare, Co, Wexford	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Wexford	Wexford Flood Relief Scheme	Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
Wicklow	Arklow (Avoca River) Flood Relief Scheme	Stage III: Detailed Design

Table 2. Small Projects by County with Scheme Stage.

County	Scheme	Stage
Carlow	Carlow Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Clare	Bunratty Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Clare	Kilrush Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Donegal	Glenties Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Donegal	Kerrykeel (Carrowkeel) Flood Relief Scheme	Pre-Planning
Donegal	Na Dúnaibh (Downings) Flood Relief Scheme (Na Dúnaibh FRS)	Commencement
Galway	Clifden Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Kerry	Abbeydorney Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Kerry	Banna Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Kildare	Leixlip Scheme	Commencement
Kilkenny	Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme	Pre-Planning
Laois	Clonaslee Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Leitrim	Leitrim Village Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Leitrim	Mohill Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Limerick	Athea Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Limerick	Rathkeale Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Longford	Longford Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Louth	Ardee Flood Relief Scheme	Pre-Planning
Meath	Mornington Flood Relief Scheme Augmentation	Commencement
Offaly	Rahan Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Roscommon	Bogganfin Flood Defence Scheme	Commencement
Sligo	Rathbraghan Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Tipperary	Golden Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Tipperary	Holycross Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Tipperary	Killaloe/Ballina Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Tipperary	Knocklofty Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Waterford	Aglish Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Waterford	Ballyduff Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Wicklow	Avoca Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement

Small Projects by County and Stage
County	Scheme	Stage
Carlow	Carlow Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Clare	Bunratty Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Clare	Kilrush Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Donegal	Glenties Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Donegal	Kerrykeel (Carrowkeel) Flood Relief Scheme	Pre-Planning
Donegal	Na Dúnaibh (Downings) Flood Relief Scheme (Na Dúnaibh FRS)	Commencement
Galway	Clifden Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Kerry	Abbeydorney Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Kerry	Banna Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Kildare	Leixlip Scheme	Commencement
Kilkenny	Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme	Pre-Planning
Laois	Clonaslee Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Leitrim	Leitrim Village Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Leitrim	Mohill Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Limerick	Athea Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Limerick	Rathkeale Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Longford	Longford Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Louth	Ardee Flood Relief Scheme	Pre-Planning
Meath	Mornington Flood Relief Scheme Augmentation	Commencement
Offaly	Rahan Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Roscommon	Bogganfin Flood Defence Scheme	Commencement
Sligo	Rathbraghan Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Tipperary	Golden Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Tipperary	Holycross Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Tipperary	Killaloe/Ballina Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Tipperary	Knocklofty Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement
Waterford	Aglish Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Waterford	Ballyduff Flood Relief Scheme	Scoping
Wicklow	Avoca Flood Relief Scheme	Commencement

Table 3. Substantially Complete Schemes since 2018 by County.

Substantially complete since 2018 by County
County	Scheme
Clare	Ennis (Lower) Flood Relief Scheme
Clare	Ennis (South) Flood Relief Scheme
Cork	Bandon Flood Relief Scheme
Cork	Clonakilty Flood Relief Scheme
Cork	Douglas (incl. Togher Culvert) Flood Relief Scheme
Cork	Skibbereen Flood Relief Scheme
Dublin	Dodder Phase 2C, 2D, 2E Flood Relief Scheme
Galway	Clare River (Claregalway) Flood Relief Scheme
Galway	Dunkellin & Aggard Stream Flood Relief Scheme
Louth	Bellurgan Flood Relief Scheme
Mayo	Westport (Cois Abhainn & Ashwood) Flood Relief Scheme
Meath	Ashbourne Flood Alleviation Scheme

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan

As I said, I am asking for the overall figure nationally and whether a project at stage 1, stage 2 or whatever. This relates to the broader point of trying to clarify how many are at stage 1 and identifying any delays. I have spoken previously about schemes that have been beset by problems and I want to get an overall picture of how many are stuck, for want of a better adjective. The Minister of State might then outline what difficulties the various schemes are experiencing.

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan

With regard to those that are currently active, there are 67 major flood schemes and 29 small schemes. These are being led by the local authorities in most cases. There are currently six at construction and these will provide protection for up to 870 properties. We have also initiated a pilot scheme between the Office of Public Works, Donegal County Council and Kilkenny County Council. There was a suggestion that as some of the schemes in tranche 2 are so slow coming out of it, there is a question as to whether they will ever come out of it. We have provided additional resources where that has been deemed necessary, and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will be aware of this in the context of Galway. If a local authority submits a business case to us for additional personnel, whether in regard to hydrology, civil engineering or otherwise, the local authority in most cases has had the application viewed very positively by the Office of Public Works.

I have a fairly substantial table in my response which deals with stages 1 to 4 and others that have not even got off the starting blocks. I will forward that information to the Deputy afterwards.

Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan

I thank the Minister of State. As I said, I want to gauge where we are at with the various schemes. Judging from the initial figures that the Minister of State read out, and I do not want to misquote him, there are 67 major schemes and 29 smaller schemes, and just six of them are at construction. If that is the headline figure, there are obviously difficulties with various schemes across the country that are stuck in the pipeline. I welcome the response and look forward to getting the detail afterwards. I might discuss various issues with the Minister of State afterwards.

Deputy Patrick O'Donovan

The opportunity for people to raise these issues on the floor of the Dáil is very important to me and the Office of Public Works. In recent years, we have been at pains to point out that these are not just flood relief schemes, as they were typically called, and they are an adaptation to El Niño and the climate issues that are currently being faced by the world and not only by Glashaboy, Coirib go Cósta and everywhere else. These are schemes designed to withstand 100-year events and have the international standard that goes with that. They are complicated by nature and we have had a lot of over-and-back with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, with regard to the planning applications around some of them. However, those that have been built and delivered have been very successful, and every Deputy is aware of one that has been delivered in their own constituency. The alleviation of the mental trauma for a community when we finally hand over to the local authority for completion is what is worth it at the end of the day. I thank the Deputy and other Deputies for using the opportunity to raise this because it gives me political capital with the Minister to make sure that more can be done.

Deputy Paschal Donohoe

The Minister of State is not lacking political capital, I can tell him.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

As we have a short time left, we will go back to Question No. 95 from Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú. He will not get all of his time but he will get some of it.