Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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35. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made to date in 2017 on investing in flood defences; the amount committed to projects in 2017 and over each of the next five years; and if additional resources will be committed in the mid-term capital review. [26205/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW), in association with the relevant Local Authorities, have to date completed 38 major flood relief schemes with a total investment of almost €300 million. Currently, there are twelve schemes under construction with at least four of these to be completed this year, which include the South Campshires (Dublin), Foynes (Limerick), Verdant Place (Limerick) and Bray (Wicklow).

An allocation of €45m is in place for 2017 for capital flood risk management measures and this forms part of the Government’s commitment of €430 over the period 2016 – 2021 which will see average annual expenditure rise from the current €45m to €100m by 2021. This allocation is broken down as follows:

The 2017 allocation will allow the continued progress of the projects currently under construction and the anticipated commencement of construction works this year on other projects including Athlone, Co Westmeath, Clonakilty, Co Cork, Ennis South, Co Clare and Templemore, Co Tipperary. At the same time, the design and planning of a further 21 schemes from the current Capital Programme will continue with the intention that almost all of these will be implemented before the end of 2021. Other schemes arising from the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Plans, which are due to be completed shortly, will be advanced through the detailed design and planning processes during this period with some of these being advanced to construction in the timeframe referred to.

The Office of Public Works is also providing funding to Local Authorities under the Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Protection Scheme. So far in 2017, 21 projects have been approved for funding, bringing to over 600 the number of projects approved since the Scheme was initiated in 2009.

In relation to the mid-term Capital Review, I am satisfied that the current allocations committed by the Government to meet the requirement for flood capital defence schemes over the next 5/6 years are sufficient to ensure progress with the implementation of the capital programme over the period as outlined above.