Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide a full update on the delivery of the CFRAM scheme for County Louth and east Meath, further to the most recent flooding events in the area; the current timelines for the delivery of the projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30653/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Following the severe flooding in north Louth last November, flood event drone footage was captured and surveying of the affected areas arranged. The Office of Public Works (OPW) met with Louth County Council engineers on 9^th October 2023 to review the work completed to date on the Carlingford/Greenore Flood Relief Scheme and to plan for the scheme going forward. This included scoping requirements and data collection. The OPW met again with Louth County Council in November 2023 to assess the flood mechanisms and damages from the flood event and this will help to inform the proposed scheme.

Earlier this year, Louth County Council advertised a CCTV and Topographical Survey Tender competition for Carlingford and Greenore to collect data to develop the flood relief scheme. Contractors have been appointed by Louth County Council and it is expected that survey data will be available in Q4 2024 which will inform the development of the scheme. Following a request from Louth County Council the OPW has recently approved funding for additional staff to assist with the progression of the project at Carlingford/Greenore. OPW and Louth County Council Engineers continue to meet frequently to progress this scheme.

Currently the Dundalk/Blackrock South Flood Relief Scheme and the Drogheda/Baltray Flood Relief Scheme are at Development and Preliminary Design Stage (Stage 1) in the project lifecycle. Updates to the Hydraulic model for Dundalk following Storm Ciarán in November 2023 are ongoing and will inform the scheme design. An emerging options workshop is scheduled for Q3, 2024. The expected end date for Stage 1 of the Dundalk/Blackrock South Scheme is Q1, 2026 and Stage 1 completion for the Drogheda/Baltray Scheme is scheduled for Q2 2025. Ardee is currently at options review.

While the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) 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 and once the outcome of the review is known OPW will discuss the results with Louth County Council.

In the interim it remains open to Louth County Council to apply for funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This demand driven scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of this scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.

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/.

In east Meath, the Mornington Flood Relief Scheme (FRS), consented to under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, was substantially completed in 2013, providing protection to 162 properties. This flood relief scheme has a design standard of 0.5% AEP coastal flood event and 1% AEP fluvial flood event. The OPW directly managed the construction and funded the development of the flood defences. The Mornington FRS is maintained annually by the OPW East Region Drainage Maintenance Section. Maintenance involves silt and vegetation removal from circa 3km of channel, and vegetation management on circa 5km of embankment. Maintenance is generally carried out in Q4 of each year.

The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management CFRAM Programme proposed a further flood relief scheme for Mornington to augment the existing scheme. The proposed further measures for Mornington that may be implemented after project-level assessment and planning or exhibition and confirmation may include physical works such as a series of hard defences (flood embankments and walls). These works would complement the existing flood scheme already completed. The hard defences would protect against a 1% AEP fluvial flood event and against a 0.5% AEP coastal flood event.

There is currently a group in place with representatives from the OPW and Meath County Council to progress the development of further works for the Mornington/Bettystown area. There are a number of projects in this area that are currently being considered in addition to the CFRAM proposals and the group is assessing the best approach for delivering these projects. This includes the installation of a permanent pumping station in the Dunes Estate, flood defences in the Villages and a culvert upgrade required for the Northlands Flood Relief Scheme. It is intended that the pumping station and culvert upgrade will be completed this year. The appropriate planning and design development route for the other works is currently under consideration.

After the August 2023 flood event in the Mornington/Bettystown area a senior level group involving the OPW and Meath County Council was established to review the event and any additional measures in the Mornington/Bettystown area that may now be required.

The OPW instructed consultants RPS to investigate both the cause and magnitude of the flooding events in Mornington/Bettystown in August and October of last year. This investigation will inform any appropriate short term measures that can be taken to manage the flood risk in this area and in the longer term will inform the design of any further proposed flood defences. Phase 1 of this report was completed and presented to the senior level group in December, 2023. Based on the recommendations of the Bettystown/Mornington Flood Event Investigation Report (Phase 1), RPS will now progress the further phases of the report, whereby Phase 2 will involve model upgrades and Phase 3 will update and assess the flood relief options.

Northlands Flood Relief Scheme

The Northlands Flood Relief Scheme commenced in November, 2016. Construction of this scheme, consisted of in-situ reinforced concrete walls and precast concrete “U-channels”, and was carried out by the OPW (direct works) on behalf of Meath County Council, and was substantially completed in Q1 of 2018.

A Steering Group consisting of representatives from the Office of Public Works, Meath County Council and the design consultant was established to progress a design for a culvert upgrade as an extension to the Northlands Flood Relief Scheme. It is proposed to carry out water diversion works in 2024 to enable the construction of a replacement culvert on Eastham Road.