Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the devastation caused by flooding to people, families, businesses in Midleton and East Cork during Storm Babet.

The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme provided the Government with the evidence necessary to launch a national programme of 150 flood relief schemes in 2018 funded by €1.3bn from the National Development Plan. Major flooding in December 2015 and January 2016, were catalysts to commence work on the design of a scheme for Midleton.

Cork County Council is leading the delivery of the Midleton flood relief scheme and in 2017 appointed engineering and environmental consultants. Midleton has proven to be one of the most complex schemes with flood risks from four sources, fluvial, tidal, groundwater and pluvial. Following Storm Babet, an assessment of the scheme is being completed, so we can be confident that we have designed a scheme that can meet the standard of protection required by the insurance industry. The next step is to seek planning consent and work is ongoing on the development of the planning design for the scheme. Some interim measures have been implemented and more, including Individual Property Protection, are planned.

It is not possible to progress all 150 flood relief schemes simultaneously, due to the limited availability of the professional and specialised engineering skills required to design and construct flood relief schemes. The flood relief schemes for Castlemartyr, which is planned to include Mogeely, Youghal and Rathcormac are not in the first tranche of schemes being progressed.

Pending the commencement of the design of a scheme, Cork County Council can introduce localised flood mitigation measures with funding from the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Cork County Council has recently submitted an updated application to the OPW for Castlemartyr. The OPW have reviewed this application and have requested further information from Cork County Council, which will be reviewed when submitted. I understand that Cork County Council is preparing an application to the scheme for interim flood risk mitigation works in Mogeely.

Since Storm Babet the OPW approved funding for an Executive Engineer to work exclusively on the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme, together with the OPW funded dedicated Senior Executive Engineer for this scheme. The OPW currently provides funding for four Senior Executive Engineers to Cork County Council and one Executive Engineer. Cork County Council earlier this year submitted a business case for additional staffing to support the delivery of all flood relief schemes across Cork County. This business case is being discussed between OPW and Cork County Council.