Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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410. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the flood relief scheme in Skibbereen, County Cork will be officially completed. [2618/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Skibbereen Flood Relief Scheme was substantially completed on 6 June 2019.  All known defects arising from the construction have been remedied, with some delays as a result of Covid-19.

Planning for the operation and maintenance of the scheme is ongoing in conjunction with Cork County Council, who will act as agents of the OPW in carrying out the statutory operation and maintenance of the scheme.  A small number of works to address elements identified during construction (and since completion of the scheme works), which were outside the main construction contract, remain to be completed and are being progressed in separate works packages.

In addition, some drainage works on Cork Road, which fall outside the remit of the main Scheme, have subsequently been identified as being necessary.  Detailed assessments are currently being progressed by Cork County Council and consultants RPS, in conjunction with the OPW and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), to identify the most effective solution. The OPW is providing some funding under the Minor Works & Flood Mitigation Scheme towards these works.  While work is currently ongoing on the development of a solution, the Council is not yet in a position to confirm the programme times in relation to planning approvals and construction.

A length of flood defence wall upstream of the footbridge in the Town centre remains to be constructed which will facilitate flood defence at a high level (for relatively rare floods) for the adjacent apartments and the town centre, as well as a proposed future public walkway, being proposed by Cork County Council.  It is expected that cost for this remaining work will be shared between Cork County Council and the OPW.

Cork County Council and their consultants have been undertaking assessments of the wider surface water drainage network in the area and these assessments are progressing. Discussions have taken place with a view to completing some remedial/improvement works with any further works to be progressed once the required reports or consultations are completed.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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411. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be provided to Cavan County Council in 2022 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. [2642/22]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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412. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be provided to Monaghan County Council in 2022 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. [2643/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together.

The Government has allocated €1.3bn under the National Development Plan to 2030 to support the design and construction of some 150 flood relief schemes to manage Ireland’s risk from significant flooding. 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. A Steering Group, comprising of representatives from the Office of Public Works and Cavan County Council, is now in place and is progressing this Scheme.Following a competitive procurement process, it is expected that Engineering and Environmental Consultants will be appointed in the coming weeks to progress this scheme. Once appointed, 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.

The OPW and Monaghan County Council will work closely to ensure that the three schemes for Ballybay, Iniskeen and Monaghan town will be commenced as soon as possible within the ten year timeframe for this programme of investment under the National Development Plan.

Outside of this national programme of investment on major flood relief schemes, 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. This Minor Works Scheme was introduced by my Office 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 by the OPW, 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

Since 2009 funding to Cavan County Council under this scheme has totalled €463,302. This includes recent approvals in 2020, totalling €75,600 to Cavan County Council for projects at Aghadreenagh Redhills, Ballyhaise Pitch, Ballyhaise Cavan Rd, Drumliffe Ballyhaise Knockateery Cloverhill and Mullinavaranogue. 

In 2021, the OPW approved funding of €75,500 to Monaghan County Council for a project at Drumfalra, Ballybay, bringing the total approved funding under this scheme since 2009 for this Council to €2,495,359. In December 2021 my Office received an application for funding for a project on Plantation Road, Monaghan from Peace Campus to Peter’s Lake. This application is currently under consideration by my Office. Details of all approved localised flood relief schemes and coastal protection measures by my Office under this scheme are available on the OPW website at www.gov.ie/opw

Under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, as amended, the OPW maintains the Boyne, Inny, Blackwater and Glyde and Dee catchments in accordance with its statutory requirements. Cavan County Council has statutory maintenance responsibilities for the parts of Erne Catchment.