James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of flood schemes for Rathcormac, Midleton, Castlemartyr, Mogeely and Killeagh and any others in Cork East that his Department is considering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40173/25]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will consider a new retrospective scheme for residents of Midleton who wish to purchase higher barriers to protect their premises from any flooding that may occur in the future, considering that parts of Midleton town were under four feet and more of water during Storm Babet; if his Department is aware of any delays installing the current individual property protection, IPP, scheme in Midleton; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40172/25]

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister provide an update on flood protection measures currently being undertaken at Rathcormac, Mogeely, Killeagh, Castlemartyr and Midleton in east Cork?

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 9 together.

The launch in 2018 of the flood risk management plans trebled, to some 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction. There remain some 50 schemes, referred to as tranche II, yet to commence work on their design, due to constraints of professional engineering services and skills in Ireland. However, the Government is committed to funding these projects through the €1.3 billion available under the national development plan for flood relief measures.

Cork County Council is leading the delivery of six flood relief schemes, including Midleton, with nine tranche II schemes, including Castlemartyr, Youghal and Rathcormac. The OPW is funding nine staff in Cork County Council to support its delivery of this programme of schemes, and other schemes across the county, including in Mogeely and Killeagh.

The OPW is piloting a new delivery model in counties Donegal and Kilkenny to inform delivery of future tranche II schemes nationally.

The Midleton flood relief scheme, to protect up to 750 properties, is currently estimated to be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála in early 2026 and for substantial completion in 2031. A planning application for advance works at Tir Cluain, to protect 111 of these properties, is scheduled for submission as a Part 8 application later this year with construction planned to commence in late summer-early autumn 2026. Cork County Council has begun to engage with landowners on environmental surveys and assessments required to inform the environmental impact assessment report. The council has completed a number of interim flood defence works in Midleton since Storm Babet in October 2023. Cork County Council progressed interim flood mitigation measures for Rathcormac, Castlemartyr and Killeagh and is liaising with the Office of Public Works on interim measures for Mogeely.

In October 2024, the OPW approved €5.8 million in funding for Cork County Council to make individual property protection available free of charge to home and business owners in Midleton and across east Cork who were impacted by Storm Babet in October 2023. This included retrospective payment to property owners who had purchased suitable individual property protection, IPP, measures between 18 October 2023 to 7 October 2024.

Following a review of all applications there were 725 valid applications. Cork County Council is, since April 2025, delivering flood barriers to properties where no civil works is required. The council is fully aware of the urgent nature of this unprecedented project and is constrained by the response from the market for supply of flood barriers and civil works contractors. Cork County Council and the OPW are keeping the delivery of IPP under review.

Cork County Council has advised that the standard height of barrier being delivered under this scheme is 680 mm which is the accepted industry standard height for flood barriers. This is in line with best practice guidance from the United Kingdom to avoid potential structural damage to properties. No review of the scheme’s criteria is being considered.

A quarterly update to elected representatives, members of the business community and the wider community by Cork County Council on the Midleton flood relief scheme and individual property protection scheme is taking place today, 17 July 2025.

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State. At this time of year, we tend to see less rain, however, this does not stop those in Cork East whose property was damaged by flood water from worrying. I acknowledge considerable flood prevention works have been undertaken across Cork East but concerns will always remain until full flood protection measures are introduced. Lack of insurance cover further increases these fears. I thank the Minister of State for visiting Midleton in April and for his commitment to calling to other areas, such as Rathcormack, Killeagh, Mogeely and Castlemartyr, when his diary allows. When might the Minister of State be in a position to meet the residents of these villages to discuss their concerns in person? I asked this question in February and the Minister of State gave a commitment he would call to Rathcormack but I note he is awaiting funding and I appreciate this. If we could have a date for that visit, I would really appreciate that.

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. The Taoiseach and I visited Midleton and met the people there. I always say in the House that from start to finish, a scheme takes 11 years. It is very hard for people to accept this, particularly when their houses and businesses have been flooded. I understand well the areas in Midleton and the pressures on them. With regard to the other areas in question, I am making changes to the minor works scheme and looking at other areas where we can provide funding to the local authority to help to try speed it up under tranche II.

We announced the scheme back in 2018 and I will give the Deputy a picture of where we are at today. We have more than 100 schemes at various stages in the planning and construction, which was an enormous move in terms of the Government protecting the people at risk of flooding. In recent months, we have gone from five schemes to 13 with machines on the ground and two more to come at the end of the year. We are about to make changes to minor works scheme where local authorities will be able to come to my Department and speed up the delivery of some of these schemes in tranche II. I hope to be able to deliver for those people in question with the minor works scheme.

On the Deputy's question on calling to the areas, I would say we are looking at approximately two to three weeks. I am probably the only Minister in the House who is under heavy demand. I am everywhere and anywhere but I like to visit people and to see the problems first hand. I am familiar with some of the areas the Deputy spoke about but we will meet the people on the ground to give assurances that Government is there to help and it will do whatever it can, and I know my Department is doing that. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, has been very supportive in the recent talks relating to providing funding. Government is very much to the fore in respect of flooding right across the country.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State is like Shaws. He is almost nationwide but do not forget Kilkenny as well.

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I must also acknowledge that. I thank the Minister of the State and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, for their support.

With reference to Rathcormack, Mogeely, Killeagh and Castlemartyr, they have been in tranche II the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme for a long period. I welcome the Minister of State's response in that regard. For these villages, flooding is a regular occurrence and residents are afraid tranche II of the CFRAM is not progressing fast enough, which the Minister of State said himself. However, I acknowledge that currently much work is going on the ground to ease their concerns. Residents in some areas, such as Mogeely, are particularly at risk given their houses are timber-framed and cannot withstand further flooding. With this in mind, I appeal to the Minister of State for tranche II to be prioritised and for these villages be moved up to alleviate the fears of people living in these areas at risk of flooding. I sincerely thank the Minister of State for his positive response and I look forward to his visit in the next two to three weeks. It will be good news for the villages concerned.

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I thank Deputy McCarthy. I know the pressures he is under as an elected representative, as is everyone in this House. I was in this role before and I know the run of the Department but there are still constraints that do not allow us to deliver the schemes as fast as humanly possible.

In regard to Lough Funshinagh, when we went into try to do the work there, we had not dotted our i's or crossed our t's and we ended up with judicial reviews which held back the project for a number of years. We are now in a good place and working together.

This is not about politics. People have water up to their knees in their houses and are scared for their lives. We should not use this as a place to beat Government up. Rather, we should work together in the House to deliver for these people because we know too well the suffering they are going through at this time.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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We will move back to Question No. 4.