Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Boyne, Inny and Glyde and Dee arterial drainage maintenance schemes are in operation in County Cavan. As part of the annual maintenance programmes, maintenance of approximately 78 km of river channel is scheduled to take place in County Cavan at an estimated cost of €460,000. I am delighted to tell the Deputy that the work will take place this year.

Local authorities are responsible for the ongoing maintenance of certain watercourses within the drainage districts in the county. For areas not covered by the arterial drainage maintenance programme, the OPW operates a minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme. It is open to all local authorities to submit a funding application under this scheme. Any application received is considered in accordance with the scheme's eligibility criteria that have recently been reviewed and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management. An application was recently received from Cavan County Council for structural flood defence works at Drummullan. The application is under consideration.

Towards the end of last year I announced a pilot scheme for channel cleaning for five local authorities. Following on from a review of the delivery of the pilot schemes, I hope to widen the scheme to other areas next year, including County Cavan.

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