Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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10. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans he has to reopen the home relocation scheme for families impacted by flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1772/22]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As the Minister of State knows, the home relocation scheme - it was the second such relocation scheme that I secured to take families out of homes where there was no solution to their particular flooding problems - was introduced in 2017. However, a number of families failed to avail of it at the time even though they were eligible and they should not be excluded.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The voluntary homeowners relocation scheme was introduced by the Government in 2017 to address the serious flooding of those properties that flooded in the winter of 2015 and 2016, including those properties flooded by turloughs. To be eligible for assistance under this one-off scheme, a homeowner had to meet a number of conditions, including that floodwater entered and damaged the building during or as a result of flooding during relevant dates such as to render it uninhabitable and that there was no viable engineering solution that could protect the property from future flooding.

Under this national scheme, 174potentially eligible properties were identified to the OPW in two ways, those being, by the local authorities or through direct expressions of interest from homeowners. At all times, participation in the scheme has been voluntary for homeowners. Through follow-up meetings with the homeowners and both desk-based and engineering assessments, approximately half of those homeowners either were not interested in engaging with the scheme or did not meet the scheme's criteria.

Some homeowners identified as being potentially eligible will benefit from engineering solutions that will protect their homes from future flooding. The OPW and local authorities have identified 33homeowners who would otherwise be eligible for relocation who will benefit from inclusion in planned flood relief schemes and minor works projects. In addition to these projects, an important element of the administrative arrangements of the relocation scheme was the establishment of a unique and one-off scheme of remedial works for identified engineering solutions for eligible homes for which there was no other funding source. To date, remedial works have been identified to protect 19 homes from future flooding and work is continuing to explore possible engineering solutions for a further three homes.

Where an engineering solution is not feasible based on best available information at the time of each decision, the OPW offers financial assistance towards relocation to a replacement dwelling - equivalent to the cost to the relevant local authority - on a like-for-like basis. To date,29homeowners have received formal offers of financial assistance for relocation, with a further two applications being considered. Thirteen homeowners have now completed the process at a cost of €3.22 million, which has enabled them to relocate and purchase or build replacement dwelling houses under the scheme.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

To reopen the scheme as proposed by the Deputy would require Government approval and there are no plans at present in this regard.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for that information. I have been dealing with three families, two of whom live in the catchment area of Lough Ree. We are never going to be able to hold that back regardless of whatever remedial measures are put in place. The two families naively believed that the Government's announcements after the 2016 flood regarding water management measures would address their problem. They did not want to leave their homes, so they did not apply at the time. They were marooned again some years later.

The third case was brought to the attention of the environment section of Roscommon County Council but never reported to the area office and was never included on any list. That family has three turloughs converging on the site of their home. If they were flooded in 2016, they should be considered for relocation.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, a long-standing precedent means I cannot comment on individual cases in the House because I do not have the details. If the Deputy furnishes them to me, I can have them examined by the OPW and the relevant officials in the Department.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I have brought the case to the attention of the chairman of the OPW and have engaged directly with him on the matter. I have also brought it to the attention of the local authority. However, I will take up the Minister of State's offer and provide him with the details.

We successfully secured the home relocation scheme but there was also a scheme for farmyard relocations. This is not under the Minister of State's direct remit but it is something in which I know he has an interest. Will he provide the House with an update on any progress that has been made in that regard?

The Minister of State spoke about the pilot individual flood prevention measures that had been applied in respect of a number of homes. Is there any intention of rolling the pilot out beyond its cohort of families now that we have learned from the scheme?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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My two immediate predecessors in this role - Deputy Canney and former Deputy Moran - worked on the development and design of this scheme and the OPW will always hold it in our arsenal. If we need to revert to the Government with a similar request for relocations on a case-by-case basis, the OPW, together with the relevant authority, will seek to do that based on the lessons we have gleaned.

As the Deputy rightly alluded, the farmyard relocation scheme is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have had bilateral meetings with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, on this issue, specifically as it relates to the Shannon. I have also raised it with directly with the Minister of State, Senator Hackett.

There are farmyards for which there is no viable option other than a relocation. I think the farm representatives have raised this issue as well. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and his officials are working towards that.