Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2019
194. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures in place, funded by the OPW, to respond to repeated flooding in Buncrana, County Donegal, in view of the fact that the town is not listed in the flood emergency response plan of Donegal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23523/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to say that good progress has been made on the implementation of new flood relief schemes in County Donegal since I announced, in May 2018, 29 Flood Risk Management Plans for all the main river basins. These Plans identified a total of 118 flood relief projects to protect the main flood risk areas throughout the country, 15 of which are in County Donegal including a proposed scheme for Buncrana. These Plans and projects are a key part of the overall flood risk management strategy set out in the National Development Plan 2017 - 2028 involving total investment of almost €1 billion over the ten year time frame of that Plan. As it is not possible to implement all of the 118 projects at the one time, a total of 57 projects were prioritised for the initial tranche of investment and delivery based on the level of risk and number of properties to be protected.
Following consultation and discussions between the OPW and Donegal County Council, six of the 15 Donegal projects have been identified to be progressed in the first phase of implementation. Steering Groups for the projects have been established and much work has been done for the appointment of consultants over the coming months for these projects. While the proposed project for Buncrana is not in the first tranche of projects to be advanced, both the OPW and Donegal County Council will work closely to ensure that the project will be progressed as early as possible in the coming years and within the 10 year timeframe for the programme of investment.
