Mr. Jim Casey:

In the past two years, we have made it a specific requirement that all flood relief schemes being planned and designed need to incorporate detailed consideration of potential nature-based solutions together with all other solution options. An example of this is the Midleton scheme. Midleton was one of the first schemes where we carried out a pilot investigation into specific nature-based solutions. The scheme will incorporate nature-based solutions. It will likely be in the scheme adaptation plan rather than the initial scheme. This work will be done for all of our flood relief schemes from now on. It will be done for the majority of the 150 schemes referenced by the Deputy.