Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Buckley for raising this important issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility who, unfortunately, is not able to be here.

The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, recently visited Midleton and the east Cork region. He had an opportunity to meet with Cork County Council and local communities and residents to discuss the flooding problems in the area and the proposed flood defence works that are planned or under way for Midleton and east Cork. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, is fully aware that flooding has a significant impact on people, families, businesses and communities, in particular the recent flooding caused by Storm Babet in October 2023.

Through the catchment flood risk assessment and management programme, the largest study of flood risk was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. This studied the risk for two thirds of the population of flooding from rivers and the sea. The Government's flood risk management plans provided the evidence of a proactive approach to designing and constructing flood relief works for the most at-risk communities.

The delivery of the flood risk management plan is supported by €1.3 billion through the national development plan. To date 55 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to more than 13,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damages and losses avoided, which are estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. It is not possible to progress all 150 flood relief schemes identified by the flood risk management plans simultaneously, due to the limited availability of the professional and specialised engineering and other skills that are required to design and construct flood relief schemes.

While this prioritised approach to delivering schemes means that work is complete or under way to protect some 80% of all at-risk properties nationally, the flood relief schemes for Castlemartyr, which is planned to include Mogeely, and for Rathcormac are not in the first phase of projects being progressed nationally. The Government is, however, committed to progressing these schemes as a part of the €1.3 billion for flood relief measures under the national development plan.

The OPW is piloting a new delivery model for flood relief schemes, which will inform the prioritisation of future schemes nationally and the scope of services required from consultants to design and construct flood relief schemes. Cork County Council can also introduce localised flood mitigation measures with funding from the OPW minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme for all locations ahead of the completion of a flood relief scheme for the community. The purpose of this minor works scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake short-term measures in the form of minor flood mitigation works to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative area. The scheme applies where a flood defence solution can be readily identified and achieved within a short timeframe. Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost no more than €750,000. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects.

The OPW is working closely with Cork County Council to expedite the delivery of flood relief schemes in County Cork with the minimum of delay and currently provides funding for five full-time engineering staff in the council. The OPW is in discussions with the council to fund additional engineering and administrative staff for the purpose of delivering flood relief schemes in the county. Funding for an executive engineer was approved by the OPW in late 2023, with the executive engineer currently in position. The OPW expects to conclude these discussions in the coming weeks.

Cork County Council is leading the delivery of the Midleton flood relief scheme, and in 2017 appointed engineering and environmental consultants. Midleton has proven to be one of the most complex schemes, with flood risks from four sources. These are fluvial, tidal, groundwater and pluvial. Following Storm Babet an assessment of the scheme is being completed so we can be confident that a scheme is being designed that can meet the standard of protection required by the insurance industry. The next step is to seek planning consent, and work is ongoing on the development of the planning design for the scheme.

Interim flood defence measures in Midleton are under way in a phased manner, in compliance with the regulatory frameworks. Some examples of measures that are either complete or ongoing include an interim and advance works report that has been completed by the scheme consultants and which is under review by the project steering group, the installation of a number of gauges in the Owenacurra River, and the appointment of a contractor to clear vegetation in the town centre, which will begin in the coming weeks. The council is continuing with efforts to reach landowner agreement on the removal of Moore's Bridge and is in discussion with the owner of a second bridge located on the Owenacurra River. The council is also engaging with Met Éireann on improving local flood forecasting capability.

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