Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 100 together.

I thank Deputy Stanton who raised this issue during oral questions last week. I visited Midleton with the Deputy during Storm Babet and I am fully aware of how important it is, both to the Deputy and the people of the wider area.

By way of background, the 2018 flood risk management plans provided the evidence for a proactive approach to designing and constructing 150 additional flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities, funded by €1.3 billion from the national development plan. Since then, the OPW has trebled the number of schemes at design and construction to some 100, including Midleton.

Pending the completion of this flood relief scheme, local authorities can introduce flood mitigation measures funded under the OPW’s minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme. This provides 90% of the cost of localised flood mitigation measures up to a value of €750,000. Following Storm Babet, Cork County Council progressed a number of interim flood defence measures for Midleton, including channel clearance works, and is assessing further channel works and replacement of non-return valves this summer. The council is also continuing engagement with landowners in relation to removal of some bridges. Cork County Council is finalising a plan for targeted individual property protection to at-risk properties in Midleton. These measures are being funded through the OPW.

As regards interim measures, I am actively working on this issue with officials in my Department and in Cork County Council. I intend to visit Midleton soon. In terms of the interim measures that are being put in place, these will be in place until the scheme is complete, as we discussed last week. The roll-out of interim defence measures in Midleton is under way in a phased manner in compliance with the regulatory frameworks.

The following have been completed or are ongoing. The Midleton interim and advanced work report by Arup is under review by the steering group before being shared with the wider community. On the installation of additional gauges at Lidl bridge and People's Park, one of these has been subsequently removed and a replacement is on order. Remedial works to the Ballyedmond gauge to mitigate risk of further outages has been identified and a contractor appointed. A derogation licence application for removal of gravel downstream of Moore's Bridge is in progress. Work is ongoing in parallel on the procurement of a works contractor for this work at the earliest opportunity. A request for quotations for vegetation clearance in the town centre has been issued with a view to clearance in June. Engagement with riparian landowners regarding river channel maintenance is ongoing.

The following interim works are planned for the summer of 2024, pending various statutory approvals: in-channel vegetation, channel clearance and removal of deposit material in the channel near the Lidl bridge and replacement of non-return values at Dwyer Road and Ballinacurra; assessment of viability of debris screens; continuation of engagement with Met Éireann's forecasting system; and continuation of efforts to reach landowner agreement for the removal of bridges.

Individual property protection, IPP, is being considered as part of the overall suite of measures for Midleton in tandem with the interim and advance works. Cork County Council is in the processing of agreeing the scope and scale of the IPP schemes for Midleton in conjunction with the ongoing assessment of possible advance work and intends to roll out IPP on a targeted and phased basis across Midleton. To advance this, Cork County Council has submitted a draft application for a minor works scheme for funding for IPP. This application is currently under review by my Department and the OPW. We will discuss it with Cork County Council very shortly.

In addition to the interim work, the initial assessment and advance work has been carried out. There will be delivery of certain elements of the main scheme in advance of delivery of the whole scheme. There may be construction in advance in certain locations. Assessment of advance works is required to fully understand the impact of such works. The construction of an isolated section of defences to protect one area can potentially increase risk in other locations, as Deputy Stanton will be aware. We have to look at statutory planning consent processes and environmental assessments and we have to be conscious of landowners as well.

These matters will be discussed at the next meeting with the steering group. I am actively working on this matter with my officials and Cork County Council.

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