Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with Cork County Council are engaging proactively to progress a preferred option for a viable flood relief scheme for Baile Mhuirne/Baile Mhic Írethat will protect 90 properties from significant risk from flooding. Cork County Council who will act as the lead authority for the Scheme and are currently engaging with OPW to define the scope of the consultancy brief after which the procurement of a consultant will follow.

In the interim, Cork County Council has been approved funding of €359,105.73 in September 2023 under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This funding is for the provision of temporary flood defence measures, including sand-bag defence structure with suitable impermeable barrier, remedial repair works to an existing stone wall, increasing the ground level with ramps at three field entrances and installation of two non-return valves, provision of pumping sumps, a trailer mounted mobile pump and the provision of Individual Property Protection at four properties.

Consulting Engineers Malachy Walsh and Partners (MWP) have been commissioned by Cork County Council (CCC) to complete the design of the interim flood relief measures in Ballyvourney.The detailed design is complete with the intention of going to tender for construction in November 2023.

Other Flood Relief Scheme

The proposed flood relief scheme at Ballingearyis a Tranche II scheme which will be progressed at a projected cost estimate of approximately €3.1 million which will be revised during the options development stage. This proposed scheme consists of Installation of hydrometric gauges, flood walls and embankments and will protect 46 properties when completed.

The proposed flood relief scheme at Inchigeelaghis also a Tranche II scheme which will be progressed at a projected cost estimate of €2.6m which will be revised during the options development stage. The proposed measure consist of flood walls and embankments to protect vulnerable properties in Inchigeelagh. These defences range in height from 0.6 – 1.9m and will provide protection to 28 properties when completed.

Once consultants are appointed to progress these schemes, 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 schemes.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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47. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the proposals to intensify co-operation with the relevant departments and agencies in Northern Ireland to deal with flooding problems, such as those caused by the River Erne system in counties Cavan and Fermanagh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46986/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The OPW has an on-going relationship with the former Rivers Agency (now part of the Dept. for Infrastructure, Rivers, 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 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 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.

DfI Rivers was represented throughout the CFRAM study on the relevant project steering, progress and stakeholder’s groups as well as on the National CFRAM Steering Group. DfI Rivers is currently a member of the National Floods Directive Coordination Group, which has met on 8 occasions since November 2018. DfI Rivers and the OPW have undertaken information exchange at all deliverable stages, including delivering joint presentations to stakeholders and also joint attendance at relevant consultation events.

More general cross-border coordination has also been ongoing in the field of flood risk management through bilateral meetings of the two organisations for many years, through the Irish National Hydrometric Working Group and Joint National Committee of the International Hydrological Programme and the International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage that DfI Rivers are members of. This continued close co-operation has provided the opportunity for co-operation in areas such as flood forecasting and hydrometric monitoring.

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 an on-going relationship with the former Rivers Agency (now part of the Dept. for Infrastructure, Rivers, 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 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 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.

DfI Rivers was represented throughout the CFRAM study on the relevant project steering, progress and stakeholder’s groups as well as on the National CFRAM Steering Group. DfI Rivers is currently a member of the National Floods Directive Coordination Group, which has met on 8 occasions since November 2018. DfI Rivers and the OPW have undertaken information exchange at all deliverable stages, including delivering joint presentations to stakeholders and also joint attendance at relevant consultation events.

More general cross-border coordination has also been ongoing in the field of flood risk management through bilateral meetings of the two organisations for many years, through the Irish National Hydrometric Working Group and Joint National Committee of the International Hydrological Programme and the International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage that DfI Rivers are members of. This continued close co-operation has provided the opportunity for co-operation in areas such as flood forecasting and hydrometric monitoring.

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.