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

Nationally, 55 flood relied schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 13,500 properties and an economic benefit to the State, with damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. In 2018, to facilitate the development of a programme of works, the OPW completed a strategic study called the national catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme. The CFRAM programme resulted in the publication of 29 flood risk management plans which provide the roadmap for the Government’s €1.3 billion investment in flood relief measures over the lifetime of the national development plan to 2030.

Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning and construction to some 100. The CFRAM programme did not propose structural flood risk management options to Tallow as it was considered to have a low level of flood risk. The OPW is aware that in October 2023 a flood event occurred in Tallow during Storm Babet. The OPW is reviewing the level of flood risk in Tallow as part of its national review of preliminary flood risk assessments, as required under the EU floods directive. Officials from my Department have previously liaised with Waterford City and County Council regarding recent flooding events in Tallow and OPW engineers will meet Waterford City and County Council over the coming weeks to discuss the flooding at Tallow and measures available to the council to manage that risk.

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