Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

149. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the applications submitted to the Office of Public Works by Kilkenny County Council in each of the past three years to address major flooding problems and under the minor works flood relief fund; if the local authority can submit minor works applications for areas included in the CFRAM reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14360/18]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Kilkenny County Council has written to the Office of Public Works in relation to the report it commissioned from Arup Engineering on individual property protection to address the flooding problems at Graiguenamanagh and Thomastown. Initial discussions have taken place between the Council and the OPW in relation to the report. The matter will be considered and discussed further between the two bodies with a view to agreeing the best way to deal with the flooding problems in the town. This consideration will have to have regard to the proposals for permanent flood relief schemes for the two towns included in the Flood Risk Management Plan under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.

The Flood Risk Management Plans under the CFRAM Programme have been submitted by the Commissioners of Public Works to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for approval. These Plans, which were widely consulted on locally, include other proposed projects for County Kilkenny (in addition to Graiguenamanagh and Thomastown) at Freshford, Inistioge, Piltown and Ballyhale. The implementation of larger projects in the Plans will be carried out on a phased and prioritised basis to be announced. However minor projects in the Plans which fall within the financial threshold of the Minor Works scheme, that is, up to an estimated cost of €750,000, and on approval of the Plans by the Minister, can be progressed by the Local Authorities with full funding from the OPW. Ballyhale falls within this category. If there are other localised minor works identified by Local Authorities within the areas covered by the CFRAM Plans then it is open to the Local Authorities to submit applications under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme for those works. All applications will be considered within the criteria of the scheme.

Please see listed in tabular form the applications submitted under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme by Kilkenny County Council in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to date.

Minor Works Scheme 2016- 2018