Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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78. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans, schemes or supports he and the Office of Public Works have in place to offset the risk of damage to life and property in areas prone to flooding in severe storm conditions, such as Tallow, County Waterford. [4186/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis na hAirí. Déanaim comhghairdeas leo beirt ar a gceapachán. What plans, schemes or supports do the Minister of State and the Office of Public Works have in place to offset the real risk of damage to life and property in areas prone to flooding in severe storm conditions, such as Tallow, County Waterford? I reference Tallow because during Storm Babet in 2023 flooding occurred there that had a very serious impact on homes, families and businesses in that area. Thanks to representations from my colleague, Councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy, and me, dredging work will take place in the Glenaboy river but some structural works need to take place on the Glenaboy and the Bride rivers and the wider Blackwater river basin.

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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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.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an bhfreagra sin. I thank the Minister of State for that answer but it will be cold comfort to residents of West Street in Tallow who are grappling with the fact that no structural works are proposed by the OPW to the Glenaboy and the Bride rivers. We are all aware that the ferocity and frequency of these winter storms and severe weather events are increasing. People on West Street have begun to put their lives, businesses and homes back together after that flooding event in late 2023. While they welcome that dredging will take place after a very long period of engagement with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Inland Fisheries Ireland, the OPW and Waterford City and County Council, there is much to do. Some structural works need to take place to increase capacity in that catchment area so flooding does not occur again.

Another point of note is that Tallow did not receive any visits from the Minister of State's predecessor. People are sore about that because businesses and property in the area suffered huge damage. I ask the Minister of State to consider visiting Tallow, meeting the residents of West Street and letting that feed into his future responses.

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The local authority can apply for funding under the OPW’s minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme to address flooding experienced in Tallow. The purpose of this scheme is to provide 90% funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies costing up to €750,000 to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.

I advise the Deputy to speak to the local authority first as the minor works scheme is available. It is very much driven by the local authorities. It is something I, in taking up this role, will be driving on that bit further because the local authorities can do more. There is no question that the money is available to support them. I am not going to tell the Deputy today that I will visit Tallow as I have many places to visit. I will be here for five years, however, although I hope we will deal with the problems quicker than that for him.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the commitment to keep an open mind on these things. I think we all acknowledge that local authorities are the first port of call, especially for minor works. I understand from the representations I have received that Waterford City and County Council wants to do these structural works. However, the Office of Public Works has not recommended structural works at this location. That is incorrect. I urge the Minister of State to visit the location as soon as possible to see how things are on the ground and speak with the residents there because they have a very different perspective.

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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As I said, the OPW will provide assistance to the local authority but the latter needs to drive the scheme and push it on. The money and the minor works scheme are in place. All the local authority has to do is put forward its proposals through the scheme. My engineers and staff are meeting local authorities in the Deputy's area and we will see what comes out of that.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Ceist Uimh. 83 is in the name of Deputy Nash. We will only get a bit of it done.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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I am trying to identify the question.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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It is on a public infrastructure Act.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for the prompt. I have been here all morning as I had finance questions earlier as well.