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

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. He has described what happened to parents and students when they tried to access the school during a flood, which is an unacceptable situation. We do not want anyone to go through that trauma again and that is why it is really important he raises this point in the Seanad today. I am pleased to provide a response to the issue of addressing flooding in Donaghmoyne village on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, who could not be here today.

The Government takes a proactive approach to managing Ireland’s flood risk. This is evidenced from the Government’s €1.3 billion planned investment in flood relief through the national development plan as part of Project Ireland 2040. This has allowed the Government, since 2018, to treble to 90 the number of major flood relief schemes at design and construction. All flood relief schemes are designed to be adaptable to the increased risk from climate change.

The OPW is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, as amended. Approximately 12,000 km of river channel and some 800 km of embankments form part of an annual maintained programme by the OPW. This includes some channels of the Glyde and Dee arterial drainage scheme located near Donaghmoyne village. The OPW's maintenance team keeps these channels under review and schedules their maintenance, as required, to ensure they continue to provide the standard of protection provided by the original scheme.

Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address. All local authorities may carry out flood mitigation works, within their own capital works programme and using their own resources, or by applying for funding under the OPW minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding within their areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short timeframe. Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost no more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including the cost-benefit ratio. The scheme is demand led and funding from the OPW is always available to cover eligible applications submitted by the local authorities. To date, nationally and since 2009, the office of the Minister of State with the responsibility for the OPW has approved 946 projects under this scheme and funding of €63 million.

Since the inception of the minor works scheme in 2009, Monaghan County Council has received approximately €2.5 million in funding. This includes funding of €62,000 in 2017 for upsizing an existing bridge crossing at Mannan Golf Club at Donaghmoyne. This is a very significant and important scheme for managing localised flooding problems. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and his office promote and encourage local authorities to avail of the funding under the scheme to address such localised flooding issues. While the OPW does not have an application on hand from Monaghan County Council in connection with flooding at Donaghmoyne village, the OPW is available to discuss flooding at the village with local authority personnel.

I want to conclude by assuring the Seanad that the Government, through the OPW, will continue to take a proactive approach to managing Ireland’s flood risk. This includes investment in major flood relief schemes and working with local authorities to adequately address more localised flooding risks.