Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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111. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if additional funding will be provided to Cavan County Council in 2021 for flood alleviation measures in view of increasing problems with flooding due to heavy rainfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17927/21]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if additional funding will be provided to Monaghan County Council in 2021 for flood alleviation measures in view of increasing problems with flooding due to heavy rainfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17928/21]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the specific measures that will be undertaken by the Office of Public Works in 2021 to alleviate flooding caused by the River Erne in County Cavan due to the damage caused by such flooding over recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17947/21]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the specific drainage projects to be undertaken by the Office of Public Works in County Cavan in 2021; the estimated cost of same; the drainage projects to be undertaken by Cavan County Council with financial assistance from the OPW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17948/21]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the specific drainage projects to be undertaken by the Office of Public Works in County Monaghan in 2021; the estimated cost of same; the drainage projects to be undertaken by Monaghan County Council with financial assistance from the OPW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17949/21]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 112 and 115 to 117, inclusive, together.

Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. All Local Authorities, including Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council, may carry out flood mitigation works, using either their own resources, or by applying for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme which was introduced by my Office on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009.

The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. The works to be funded are carried out under local authority powers and ongoing maintenance of the completed works is the responsibility of the Council.

Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Full details of this scheme are available on www.gov.ie/opw

In 2020, the OPW approved funding of €75,600 to Cavan County Council for projects at Aghadreenagh Redhills, Ballyhaise Pitch, Ballyhaise Cavan Rd, Drumliffe Ballyhaise Knockateery Cloverhill and Mullinavaranogue. The OPW has recently approved funding of €75,500 to Monaghan County Council for a project at Drumfalra, Ballybay.

The OPW’s annual Arterial Drainage Maintenance Works Programme includes the following river catchments in the Cavan and Monaghan areas: Boyne, Inny, Blackwater and Glyde and Dee.

The OPW does not have Arterial Drainage Schemes on the River Erne system in County Cavan and is not responsible for channel maintenance in the area in accordance with its statutory requirements under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. However, parts of the Erne Catchment are a Drainage District for which the local authority is responsible for ongoing maintenance.

Cavan County Council confirmed in May 2019 that the Council would act as lead agency on the management and delivery of the proposed flood relief scheme in Cavan Town and a steering group, comprising of representatives from the Office of Public Works and Cavan County Council, is now in place to progress the Scheme. On 5th March 2021 Cavan County Council, in partnership with the OPW, issued the tender documentation for the procurement of Engineering Consultants to the OPW Framework of Consultants. Tenders are due for return on 6 May 2021.

Once consultants are appointed to progress the Flood Relief Scheme for Cavan, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the public, will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of this scheme.

While the three proposed schemes in County Monaghan, for Ballybay, Iniskeen and Monaghan town, are not in the first tranche of flood relief projects to be progressed, the OPW and Monaghan County Council will work closely to ensure that they will be commenced as soon as possible within the 10 Year timeframe for the programme of investment.