Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

238. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will give detailed consideration to the request of a local authority (details supplied) [34186/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 area in question does not form part of an Arterial Drainage Scheme.

The Bunnoe river catchment is part of the Leesborough Drainage District and is under the maintenance responsibility of Monaghan County Council. The OPW has no responsibility for the maintenance of this river, nor the authority to carry out any maintenance works there. Monaghan County Council have previously been approved funding of €320,400 under this scheme for a study and works in the Bunnoe river catchment.

Local flooding, is in the first instance, a matter for each local authority to investigate and address.

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. Applications for funding from local authorities are considered for flood relief and erosion protection measures costing up to €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 .