Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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193. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if work on land belonging to a person (details supplied) will be facilitated during the winter months rather than having to wait until the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60208/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes and flood relief schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended. The location concerned does not form part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme which would fall under the remit of the OPW.

The maintenance of all drainage schemes carried out under earlier Acts, known as Drainage Districts, is the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority. The location does not form part of the Banna Drainage District for which the Local Authority has maintenance responsibility.

Local flooding and coastal erosion issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. The Minor Works Scheme was introduced by the OPW 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.floodinfo.ie/

The responsibility for the condition of the channel and riverbank typically rests with the riparian owner who has an important role in ensuring that watercourses are managed and free flowing so that in extreme weather events the risk of flooding can be minimised. A guide to the rights and responsibilities of landowners is available online at www.flooding.ie