Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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45. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on OPW planned flood relief works across County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52032/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 53 together.

To deliver the proposed measures set out in the Flood Risk Management Plans for County Louth, Louth County Council, working with the Office of Public Works, has agreed to be the Lead Authority in the delivery of flood relief schemes at Dundalk / Blackrock South, Drogheda, Carlingford / Greenore, Baltray and Ardee, all of which are in the first tranche of projects being progressed. The funding for these schemes has been allocated under the €1.3bn investment in flood relief under the National Development Plan to 2030.

The development of flood relief schemes, overseen by project Steering Groups with representatives meeting typically monthly from the OPW and Louth County Council, involves five distinct, sequential and related stages. Aligned to the decision gateways of the Public Spending Code these are assessing the flood risk and identifying options; seeking planning consent, detailed design, construction and maintenance. Public consultation forms part of each stage and project websites, available on floodinfo.ie provides updates on each scheme’s progress.

The Dundalk/Blackrock South and Ardee projects are being progressed simultaneously and engineering and environmental consultants were appointed in 2020. The proposed scheme will protect some 1,880 properties when completed. The scheme option for Dundalk/Blackrock South is expected in Q3 2024 and Ardee is currently at options review.

Consultants for the Drogheda and Baltray schemes were appointed in September 2021. The proposed scheme will protect some 454 properties when completed. The scheme option is expected in Q4 2024.

The OPW established a working group on Carlingford and Greenore that is focused on ensuring that all approaches for implementation are considered from a technical perspective and to propose the best method to proceed. OPW met with Louth County Council engineers on 9th October 2023 to review the work completed to date and to plan for the project going forward. This included scoping requirements and data collection. I visited Louth following the recent flooding events and saw at first hand the devastation that flooding caused in this area. Drone footage was captured and surveying of the impacted area arranged. The OPW met with Louth County Council in November to assess the flood mechanisms and damages from the event and this will help to inform the proposed scheme. The next meeting is scheduled for the end of November.

While the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme investigated possible structural flood relief measures for both Annagassan and Termonfeckin, economically viable schemes for these communities were not identified. The OPW is reviewing the flood risk in these communities.

The OPW since 2009, has approved €1.9m for 32 local flood projects under the OPW's Works Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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46. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the actions his Department will take in order to help expedite current flood relief projects, in view of the fact that the average flood relief project is taking 10-12 years to reach a conclusion; if this process can be made more efficient to ensure delivery of projects in a faster timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52141/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW), as the lead agency for flood risk management, is coordinating the delivery of measures towards meeting the Government’s National Flood Risk Policy.

A broad range of structural and non-structural measures have already been implemented to address flood risk under an approach structured around three pillars: prevention, protection and preparedness.

The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities throughout the country, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning and construction to some 100 schemes at this time.

Nationally, 54 schemes have been completed to date, at a cost of some €550m, which are providing protection to over 12,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €1.9 billion. Consequently, work to protect 80% of all at-risk properties nationally is completed or underway.

While the OPW strives to expedite and progress capital flood relief works with the minimum delay, major flood relief schemes involve complex engineering and construction operations that can impact on people's living, built and natural environment and, therefore, require lengthy planning and decision lead-in times.

The process follows a number of stages from feasibility through design, planning, detailed design and construction. It is important that the work is done correctly and achieves its objectives. Extensive and detailed technical analysis is required to establish the most appropriate solution, technically and environmentally, from a range of possible mitigation options. The solution must also be adaptable to the increased risk from climate change.

Extensive public consultation is required at various stages to ensure that those affected by a scheme have the opportunity to input into its design and implementation. Ecological and archaeological issues often require in-depth analysis in order to ensure that the technical solution selected will meet the requirements of existing EU and national environmental legislation.

Delays against profiled programme can occur due to a variety of constraints and factors, including: demand in the market for surveys; extended timeframes to obtain planning decisions; extensive and increasing environmental assessments; and Judicial Review processes.

As well as through strong project management, by means of Steering Group structures, local authorities will, where it is feasible, bring forward advance works or some minor works, prior to the main scheme being completed. These can be funded by the OPW and can mitigate the impact from a flood event. This process, by means of the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme, provides funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation or coastal protection works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. This scheme provides 90% funding to local authorities to manage localised flood risk.

Of the flood relief schemes being progressed, seven schemes are currently at construction stage and, once completed, these schemes will provide flood protection to approximately 1,700 properties.

There are also some 30 Small Projects currently being implemented by their respective local authorities, with funding being provided by the Office of Public Works. Of these, the scheme at Westport (Cois Abhainn & Ashwood) recently completed construction.

Schemes currently being delivered have been prioritised as Tranche I schemes. Also included in these active schemes are four Tranche II Pilot projects. The pilot, which I announced in May 2023, is in response to engagement between OPW and local authorities to agree a planned national approach to future schemes that matches return on investment from the available capacity in the local authorities and OPW. Consequently, a new delivery model for flood relief schemes is being piloted which will better inform the future Tranche II schemes' delivery.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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47. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if consideration will be giving to reprioritising the Glashaboy flood relief scheme following severe and unprecedented flooding in Cork; the interaction his Department has had with the local authority and the contractor in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52126/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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213. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to arrange for Cork City Council to put in place temporary flood defence barriers in an estate (details supplied) in view of the fact that over 25 houses recently suffered severe flooding and this is the second occasion on which it occurred; if the necessary funding will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51912/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 213 together.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with Cork City Council are engaging proactively to progress the Glashaboy flood relief scheme for Glanmire.

The Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme was confirmed in January 2021 by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 to 1995. The scheme is being funded from the €1.3 billion in flood relief measures under the National Development Plan to 2030, and as part of Project Ireland 2040.

The scheme, when complete, will provide flood protection to some 103 properties; 78 residential properties and 25 commercial premises and will address the flood risk in a number of locations in the Glanmire area. The scheme will include defences, such as walls and embankments; culvert upgrades; channel widening and road re-grading.

In April 2023, Cork City Council, following a successful tender competition, awarded the civil works contract to Sorensen Civil Engineering. In July 2023 Sorensen Civil Engineering mobilised on site carrying out site investigation works, working with utility providers to agree diversions and engaging with stakeholders with works commencing on site at Cúil Chluthair and Springmount.

The construction programme is anticipated to take 32 months with the works split up into several Zones to minimise disruption to the public and businesses. A Steering Group with representatives from Cork City and County Councils, the consultant engineers and the OPW meet monthly to review progress and performance with the delivery of this scheme. The schedule for the next 3 months of work is available on a dedicated webpage on the project website which has been set up to provide updates to the public throughout the works.

Following the significant flooding that occurred during Storm Babet, I visited the area and met with the local authority to discuss the impact from the storm event and progressing the construction of the scheme. The project team are currently considering all interventions or mitigations that may be beneficial to mitigate flooding until the scheme is complete.

Members of the project team met with the Copper Valley Vue Residents’ Association last week to discuss proposals for temporary works prior to construction of the permanent flood relief scheme works. The project team is currently preparing a design for these works.