Written answers

Thursday, 14 November 2019

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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30. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding allocated in 2019 for local authorities to carry out low-cost flood relief schemes; the projected drawdown of the funding at year end; the funding allocated for the schemes in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46844/19]

Photo of Kevin  MoranKevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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My Office provides funding to local authorities under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.  I am advised that under this Scheme, over 530 Minor Works projects have been completed to the end of 2018, providing local flooding solutions to almost 6,800 properties with expenditure amounting to €34.7m over the same period.  This year to date, 37 projects amounting to €3.29m have been approved and notified to local authorities.  

Funding amounting to €1.9m has already been drawn down by local authorities this year, and it is anticipated that by the end of 2019, a total of €3m will be expended under the Scheme. Based on projects approved but funding as yet not drawn down, it is expected that expenditure will again be in the region of €3m in 2020.

The allocation of funding for the scheme is included in the overall allocation for flood risk management investment included under Vote 13 (Office of Public Works) in the Revised Estimates for Public Services for 2019.

In addition to the above-mentioned Minor Works Scheme, the allocation will also allow the OPW, in collaboration with Local Authorities, to continue implementation of its comprehensive programme of investment in flood relief schemes nationally, as I announced in May 2018 at the launch of the Flood Risk Management Plans under the CFRAM Programme.  This programme amounts to approximately €1 billion and includes over 150 individual flood relief projects.  Included in this are over 30 smaller projects (each estimated to cost below €1m), which I and the Government are committed to implementing within the timeframe of the National Development Plan, with a combined preliminary cost estimate of over EUR14 million. All local authorities were contacted at the end of 2018 in respect of these Small Projects, and the necessary funding and administrative arrangements have been put in place in order to progress these Schemes.

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