Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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525.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason Mogeely and Castlemartyr in east Cork have not been included in tranche 1 of flood prevention works. [33406/24]

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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526.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when flood defence works will commence in Whitegate village in east Cork; and the expected completion time of these works. [33407/24]

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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527.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when Moore's bridge in Midleton, County Cork, will be removed from the river Owenacurra. [33408/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 525, 526 and 527 together.

I witnessed at first hand the devastation that Storm Babet had on people, families, businesses and communities in East Cork including Midleton. Through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the largest study of flood risk was completed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two thirds of the population against their risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. The Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans provided the evidence for a proactive approach to designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities.

The delivery of the Flood Risk Management Plan is supported by €1.3bn through the National Development Plan. To date, 55 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 13,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. It is not possible to progress all 150 flood relief schemes identified by the Flood Risk Management Plans simultaneously, due to the limited availability of the professional and specialised engineering and other skills that are required to design and construct flood relief schemes.

Since 2018, the OPW has trebled the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning, and construction to some 100 schemes. Prioritisation of these schemes has maximised local authority and OPW capacity and has also maximised the return to the state. So, while the State has commenced 60% of projects in the pipeline, it has work complete or underway to protect 80% of at risk properties.

As well as requiring financial commitment to meet the costs, progressing more flood relief schemes needs capacity and capability in this very highly specialised area of hydrological engineering. In the coming years, as schemes move through the pipeline into planning and construction, some of these committed specialist resources will be ‘freed up’, and this will allow for new schemes to advance. The OPW is keen to continue to find ways that it can advance new schemes, even at a time when the local authority and OPW resources to support their progression are stretched and are reliant on a small market of specialised consultants.

In Spring 2023, senior managers in OPW’s Flood Risk Management team met and discussed with Directors of Service of local authorities the experiences and challenges in delivering the flood relief schemes at design, planning and construction. The discussion also considered the opportunities to improve efficiencies and timelines with delivering the next round of schemes.

Arising from and informed by these meetings, the OPW announced in May 2023 that it is piloting a new delivery model for flood relief schemes in counties Donegal and Kilkenny. This new delivery model for flood relief schemes will better inform future Tranche II schemes' delivery and aims to match the return on investment from the available capacity in the local authorities and OPW. The Pilot will better inform the prioritisation of future schemes nationally and the scope of services required from consultants to design and construct flood relief schemes.

Cork County Council can introduce localised flood mitigation measures with funding from the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for all locations ahead of the completion of a flood relief scheme for the community.

The purpose of this Minor Works scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake short-term measures in the form of minor flood mitigation works to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative area. The scheme applies, where a flood defence solution can be readily identified and achieved within a short timeframe. Under the Scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects.

CASTLEMARTYR

Cork County Council submitted applications under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for works at Castlemartyr. The OPW has issued approval for funding to the Council for works at Castlemartyr including, lowering the embankment at agreed locations to allow flood water storage for larger events, cleaning of the Kiltha river channel, and river dredging. The OPW recommended that Cork County Council engage with a local landowner to clear the river channel from the Castlemartyr Wood Footbridge to the confluence with the Womanagh of the heavy overgrowth and numerous fallen trees, which are currently an obstruction to conveyance.

MOGEELY

The OPW understands that Cork County Council has assessed a number of possible options for interim flood relief measures at Gleann Fia, Mogeely and is appointing consultant engineers in the near future to complete a detailed assessment that will include the impact on surrounding lands, given the karst nature of this area. The OPW will continue working with Cork County Council to identify viable interim measures for Mogeely, pending the completion of a scheme for this town, as part of the Castelmartyr Flood Relief Scheme.

MOORES BRIDGE

Storm Babet caused significant damage to Moore’s Bridge in Midleton that is privately owned. Cork County Council has recently reached agreement with the landowner for the Council to remove the portions of the old bridge which have partially collapsed into the river. The Council is engaging with contractors on these works and it is scheduled to have the works completed by the end of September 2024.

WHITEGATE

Flooding occurred in Whitegate during the Storm Babet event in October 2023, causing damage to approximately 5 commercial and 6 residential properties. Flood waters entered the properties with water levels of up to 500mm in some properties, and 1m in depth on the road. Local residents have also advised that tidal flooding frequently occurs in Whitegate.

Cork County Council is finalising a post flood event report for Whitegate. There is currently no flood relief scheme proposed for Whitegate. Cork County Council can apply to the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for funding to introduce flood defence measures for the benefit of the community in Whitegate.