Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are plans for looking at mitigations and protections required following north Louth flooding and near flooding recently; what engagement there has been through the OPW and his Department with Louth County Council and other agencies following the flooding in north Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52340/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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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 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 Q2 2024 and Ardee is currently at options development.

The flooding experienced in Louth at the end of October was as a result of heavy rainfall. Louth County Council's Severe Weather Team was convened to ensure a coordinated response was in place to deal with the ongoing weather problems associated with this heavy rainfall, in particular in the north of the County. The primary focus in the aftermath of the flood event was ensuring public safety by attending to road closures and infrastructure damage within the north Louth area.

In the days following the flood event drone footage was captured and surveying of the area arranged. The Office of Public Works and Louth County Council met on Thursday 9th November to assess the flood mechanisms and damages from the event which will also help to inform the proposed Flood Relief Scheme for Carlingford and Greenore. Officials are due to meet again at the end of November to progress the project.

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection 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.

The Department of Social Protection operates a humanitarian assistance scheme to assist households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events including flooding. The purpose of this scheme is to prevent hardship by providing income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and structural repair.

In addition, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for an emergency humanitarian support scheme to support businesses, community, voluntary and sporting bodies affected by flooding. Under this scheme, emergency humanitarian contributions may be made available towards the costs of returning business premises and community, voluntary and sporting bodies to their pre-flood condition including the replacement of flooring, fixtures and fittings and damaged stock.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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63. 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 that affect Border communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52356/23]

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 with its next meeting scheduled for 29 November, 2023. 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.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a flood defence scheme (details supplied) will advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52319/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Since 2009, the Office of Public Works, (OPW) has approved funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of circa €5.7 million to County Cork for some 45 projects.

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW 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 www.floodinfo.ie.

Funding approval of €295,027 was allocated to Cork County Council in 2021 for a project at the location concerned. Cork County Council confirmed that they have identified an opportunity to provide an enhanced flood mitigation scheme for the area by adding to the funding committed by the OPW. Cork County Council intend to issue a tender this year to invite consultants to undertake the detailed design, planning, procurement, management and delivery of the project.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the proposals there are to review and amend the Arterial Drainage Act 1945; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52355/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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State intervention in addressing the flooding of lands and the improvement of same by drainage, principally for agricultural use, commenced with the passing of the first Drainage Act in 1842. For the next century, schemes of drainage works were carried out in over 200 Drainage Districts to improve over 200,000 hectares of land. There are approximately 170 of those Drainage Districts remaining in existence. Maintenance of these is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority.

Following the passing of the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, the OPW was tasked with carrying out a programme of large-scale arterial drainage schemes, on a catchment basis. Between 1948 and 1992, the OPW implemented 34 Catchment Arterial Drainage schemes and 5 Estuarine Embankment schemes. Investment by the State through the OPW in the programme of Catchment Arterial Drainage schemes and Estuarine Embankment schemes was bolstered by significant investment through the Department of Agriculture in improving land drainage for food production under the Land Project 1949 and successor funding initiatives. There are no plans to undertake further large scale arterial drainage schemes.

In terms of beneficial objectives served, the arterial drainage schemes progressed under the 1945 Act, are providing drainage outfall for 242,800 hectares of agricultural lands. Importantly, there has been significant development in these areas since the schemes were completed and the land drainage schemes are now also providing a level of protection from flooding to property, infrastructure and communities, including in excess of 21,000 properties, 2,400 kilometres of roads and 77 towns and villages.

In order to preserve the beneficial objectives served by the schemes that have been completed under the 1945 Act, the OPW has a statutory duty under Section 37 of the Act to maintain the schemes in proper repair and effective condition. Failure to do so would result in an increased flood risk to benefiting areas and communities.

The maintenance of OPW Arterial Drainage Schemes has evolved significantly over the past 20 years, driven primarily by environmental legislation such as the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the Water Framework Directive. Arterial drainage maintenance works are carried out in accordance with relevant legislation, through a range of environmental assessments, supported by widespread stakeholder consultation. The OPW, in partnership with Inland Fisheries Ireland and other stakeholders, has developed environmental drainage maintenance procedures to mitigate potential environmental impacts on rivers and streams which are maintained by the OPW for the purpose of land drainage. This OPW Environmental Guidance, which is available on the OPW website, is a practical handbook that brings lessons learned from environmental problem solving, enabling ongoing improvements in environmental performance, based on practical environmental control.

The continued requirement for ongoing drainage of such lands is being questioned in light of environmental concerns regarding the impact of such schemes, including by the Citizen Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. This is reflected in the call for a review of the Arterial Drainage Act, which was a recommendation in its ‘Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss’ published in April 2023.

There are many views in relation to the programme of arterial drainage maintenance being undertaken by the OPW. While there are calls to cease arterial drainage to progress a number of cross cutting environmental objectives, there are also calls from others to increase the maintenance activities being carried out in light of flood risks. It is also important to note that Climate Change will increase flood risks.

The Programme for Government is committed to a Land Use Review to ensure that optimal land use options inform all relevant Government decisions. Options to reverse arterial drainage schemes and for ceasing arterial drainage maintenance activities for lands currently benefitting from such maintenance, must be informed by land use policy. The flood risk implications for communities must also be carefully considered. In this regard, the Land-use Review will provide clarity regarding future national drainage requirements having regard to a broad range of policy goals, including agricultural, flood risk mitigation, climate action, biodiversity and water quality. This will inform consideration of any changes to Arterial Drainage practices and any associated legislative changes to be made to the Arterial Drainage Act, having regard to all potential benefits and impacts.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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66. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider reforming his Department’s function in granting consent to major flood relief schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52253/23]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of major flood relief schemes currently in construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52300/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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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.

To date, 54 schemes have been completed, 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.

Currently there are seven schemes at Stage IV: Implementation/Construction:

• The Dodder Phase 2 Flood Relief Scheme, which is expected to be substantially complete before the end of 2023.
• The Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme, River Mall (Templemore) Flood Relief Scheme, and Springfield Flood Relief Scheme, which are expected to be substantially complete within the next 12 months.
• The Morell River Flood Management Scheme.
• The Glashaboy (Glanmire/Sallybrook) Flood Relief Scheme and the Whitechurch Stream Flood Alleviation Scheme, which both commenced construction in 2023.

A further five schemes are anticipated to commence construction in 2024.