Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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48. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the additional financial measures he will employ in 2018 to develop flood defences across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40460/17]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has committed €430m of Capital Investment in the flood risk management area over the period 2016-2021 which will see average annual expenditure rising from the current €45m to €100m by 2021. The recently completed mid-term review of the Capital Plan 2016-2021 has confirmed that allocation.

The indicated allocation of capital funding for flood risk management in the Capital Plan for 2018 is €70m. The actual allocation will be published in the Revised Estimates for Public Services after the Budget. The significantly increased allocation in 2018 will allow the continued progress of all major flood relief projects currently under construction and the anticipated commencement of construction works next year on other projects including Clonakilty, Blackpool, Glashaboy, Douglas and Lower Lee Schemes all in Cork City or County, along with other major schemes at King’s Island in Limerick and the Lower Morrell in Kildare. At the same time, the design and planning of a further 16 schemes from the current Capital Works Programme will continue with the intention that almost all of these will be implemented before the end of 2021.

It is anticipated that other structural flood relief works arising from the Flood Risk Management Plans due to be completed shortly under the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme will start to be advanced in 2018 in a prioritised manner and be brought through the detailed design, planning and construction commencement stages in the period up to 2021.

Within the overall allocation for flood risk management, the Office of Public Works will also continue in 2018 its very successful Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme where funding is provided to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems. The Scheme was reviewed this year and, under new criteria, funding for eligible projects up to €0.75m can be applied for by Local Authorities. Over 600 projects have been approved for funding since the Scheme was introduced in 2009 which has brought protection to an estimated 6,000 properties approximately.

The Government is fully committed to the programme of capital investment in the flood risk management area which will bring substantial benefit to thousands of households in the coming years throughout all parts of the country.