Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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273. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding budgeting in the current year for flood relief works; the amount actually spent to date; the budget for such works in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40659/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The total allocation for the Flood Risk Management Programme in the Vote of the Office of Public Works in the 2016 Revised Estimates Volume is €73.746 million. Within this overall total the allocation for flood relief scheme works is €45.561 million. An additional capital amount of €7 million in Deferred Surrender was also applied to the Flood Risk Management Programme budget allocation in 2016 bringing the total allocation for flood relief works in 2016 to €52.561 million. This allows primarily for costs related to the design, planning and construction of major flood relief schemes and the funding of minor flood relief and coastal erosion works undertaken by local authorities. Provision is also included for the progression of certain strategic studies and programmes including the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme, Flood Studies Update and Flood Risk Data Management.

There are 35 major flood relief schemes currently at various stages of advancement and seven major schemes have commenced construction this year bringing to twelve the total number of schemes at construction stage currently. It is hoped to commence construction of at least five further schemes over the next 12 months.

The nature of expenditure on flood relief projects in common with many other capital projects often means that significant payments fall to be met late in the year. I am advised however that the OPW is on target to spend its full allocation for flood relief works in 2016.

The allocation for 2017 for flood relief scheme works is €45.019 million. As part of the Government's commitment to Flood Risk Management in its Capital Investment Plan 2016 to 2021 this allocation is projected to increase incrementally to €100m per year by 2021. I am satisfied that the overall allocation over this period will allow all of the major schemes currently being designed to commence construction during this time and for work to commence also on some of the structural measures included in the Flood Risk Management Plans under the CFRAM Programme due to be finalised in Spring 2017.