Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the Office of Public Work's minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection 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 was introduced by my office in 2009 and 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, 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. The original maximum amount was €500,000 and was increased to €750,000 following a review of the scheme in June 2017.

The scheme is demand led and the funding has always been available to cover eligible applications submitted by the local authorities. Funding will continue to be available in 2023 on this basis. To date, nationally and since 2009, my office has approved 873 projects under this scheme and funding of €57.7 million. This is a very significant and important scheme for managing localised flooding problems and both I and my office promote and encourage local authorities to avail of the funding under the scheme to address such localised flooding issues.

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