Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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390. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans that his Department has for the introduction of a grant system for the provision of flood gates for doors on properties in the Thurles area, County Tipperary, which are regularly flooded due to an inadequate flood water system locally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63137/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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There is a proposed Flood Relief Scheme identified for Thurles as part of the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme is the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State and culminated with the launch in 2018 of 29 flood risk management plans which propose 118 new outline flood relief projects on top of the major projects already completed and the schemes that were ongoing at the time within the existing capital works programme of the Office of Public Works (OPW). All projects are being funded under the Government's flood risk investment programme of almost €1.3 billion under the National Development Plan to 2030.

Since 2018, the OPW has trebled the number of schemes, to 90, in the pipeline being designed and at construction. Given the highly specialised market for designing flood relief schemes it is not possible to progress all proposed new schemes at once.

While the proposed scheme in Thurles is not in the first tranche of projects to be progressed,the OPW continues to liaise closely with Tipperary County Council to ensure that the programme of flood relief projects identified for Tipperary is kept under review, and that all projects will be commenced as soon as possible and within the timeframe for the National Development Plan.

In the interim it is open to Tipperary County Council to make an application under the OPW’s Minor Works Scheme for funding for flood gates.

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/.