Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
265. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the funding allocated on an annual basis for flood relief schemes to Cavan County Council from 2019 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19456/24]
View answerThe Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 for flood relief measures. In Budget 2024 the Office of Public Works, (OPW), was allocated just under €645 million of which approximately €140 million has been assigned for Climate Responsive Flood Risk Management which is sufficient to meet the current needs of this area.
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 stages to some 100 schemes at this time.
Cavan County Council is the lead authority in the delivery of Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme. The Council is working in partnership with the OPW.
Engineering and environmental consultants were appointed to the scheme in May 2022. The development of Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme is overseen by a project Steering Group with representatives meeting monthly typically from the OPW and Cavan County Council. There are five distinct, sequential and related stages in the scheme development. Aligned to the decision gateways of the Infrastructure Guidelines these are assessing the flood risk and identifying options; seeking planning consent, detailed design, construction and maintenance. Stage 1 of the project commenced in June 2022 and Cavan County Council and the OPW are currently reviewing a number of key deliverables produced by the consultant at the end of March 2024 and the consultant is progressing with hydraulic modelling.
Funding of some €0.8 million has been provided to Cavan County Council for this project since 2019. (see table below).
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
To date 2024 |
|
Cavan Town |
0 |
€49,000 |
€94,000 |
€146,000 |
€487,000 |
€2,000 |
In addition to the funding outlined above, since 2009, OPW has approved funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of circa €463,302 to County Cavan for some 10 projects. The OPW welcome applications under this scheme and is happy to engage with Local Authorities in this regard.
The table below details the approved funding to Cavan County Council for the years requested.
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Cavan Co. Co. |
0 |
€75,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short timeframe. The works to be funded are carried out under Local Authority powers, and ongoing maintenance of the completed works is the responsibility of the Council.
Under the scheme, which is demand led, 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 and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management.
