Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the outcome of the most recent discussions he or his Department have had with their counterparts in Northern Ireland concerning flooding in County Cavan, which is caused by the River Erne; the measures that will be implemented to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48296/22]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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253. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure consideration will be given to an amendment to the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 to include additional waterways, including the River Erne system in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48362/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 253 together.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has an on-going relationship with the former Rivers Agency (now part of the Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland) (DfI Rivers), which is the Competent Authority for the implementation of the 'Floods' Directive in Northern Ireland.

In 2009, the OPW and Dfl Rivers agreed to establish a Cross-Border Co-ordination Group to co-ordinate the implementation of the ‘EU Floods Directive’ across the border. This work was supported by a Cross-Border Technical Co-ordination Group. These groups have met on numerous occasions since, most recently on 14 September this year, to coordinate on the identification of areas of potentially significant flood risk, to share information and agree approaches to the production of flood mapping in border areas and to coordinate on the identification of measures and the preparation of Flood Risk Management Plans.

The Erne catchment was assessed under the OPW’s Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme (CFRAM), in close co-operation with DfI Rivers. The study considered increasing watercourse conveyance of the Erne system to lower water levels as a measure to reduce flood risk. This study revealed that water levels in the majority of the Erne catchment in Ireland, remain unchanged regardless of any works that could be carried out in Northern Ireland.

The Flood Risk Management Plan for the Erne River Basin developed under CFRAM and published in May 2018 included a flood relief scheme for Cavan Town. Cavan County Council as the Lead Authority, in partnership with the OPW, are progressing this scheme. Byrne Looby were appointed in May 2022 as the engineering and environmental consultants to deliver the project.

The Cavan Town flood relief scheme is being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, where the Government is providing an investment of €1.3 billion on flood relief measures over the next decade. When completed, the proposed flood relief scheme will protect some 110 properties - 54 residential and 56 non-residential properties.

The development of flood relief schemes involves five distinct, sequential and related stages. Currently the Cavan Town flood relief scheme is at Stage 1. The detailed scheme programme schedules that this stage will be concluded in Q.1 2025.

Consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the general public, will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of the proposals within the scheme. The first stakeholder and public consultation event was recently held in Cavan on 13 September 2022.

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.

The OPW has no plans for further catchment-wide arterial drainage schemes. However, to target the management of flood risk outside of cities, towns and villages, in 2009 the OPW introduced the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of this Scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. Funding of €463,302 has been approved for Cavan County Council under this scheme since 2009.

Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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110. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the development of improved flood defences for Arklow town; if his Department is committed to having open public engagement on the proposed works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48284/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Arklow Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Wicklow County Council, with full funding provided by The Office of Public Works (OPW).

The Scheme was granted planning approval from An Bórd Pleanála in July of this year, following a 2-day Oral Hearing on the Compulsory Purchases Order process in January, where members of the public were provided with a platform to formally voice their objections and communicate their views to An Bórd Pleanála.

Presently Wicklow County Council is drafting consultancy briefs to bring the scheme to the next stage, with a view to appointing detailed design consultants in 2023.

The Scheme will protect the town of Arklow against coastal and river flooding. The defence system includes a plan to deepen the river, and to construct floodwalls, glass panelling and an embankment as barriers to protect against flood risk. Once completed, the scheme will protect 778 properties from flooding.

A dedicated Project Team will be in place in Wicklow County Council, which will include a community liaison officer to oversee public engagement. In addition, a communications strategy will be set out in the consultancy brief and implemented to include a standalone website, facilitating public interaction with the Project Team.