Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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149. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the allocation to Monaghan County Council in relation to flood alleviation measures in each of the years 2018 to 2022 and under budget 2023. [1966/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. All local authorities may carry out flood mitigation works, within their own capital works programme and using their own resources, or by applying for funding under the Office of Public Works Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding within their areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. 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.

Since 2018 funding of €1.03m has been approved to Monaghan County Council under this scheme. Breakdown from 2018 to 2022 is as follows:

The scheme is demand led and the funding has always been available to cover eligible applications submitted by the Local Authorities and will continue to be available on this basis in 2023. To date, nationally and since 2009, my Office has approved 857 projects under this scheme and funding of €60.2m. This is a very significant and important scheme for managing localised flooding problems and both I and my Office promote and encourage local authorities to avail of the funding under the scheme to address such localised flooding issues.

The OPW guidelines for funding applications under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, together with a full list of funding approvals since 2009 is available on the OPW website: www.floodinfo.ie