Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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434.To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW will fund works to safeguard against further flooding in County Donegal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35388/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The OPW is currently piloting a new delivery model for flood relief schemes, which will inform the prioritisation of future schemes nationally and the scope of services required from consultants to design and construct flood relief schemes.

As part of this pilot Donegal County Council have received approval to commence the data collection for the Donegal Town Flood Relief scheme prior to appointing a consultant to progress the scheme. If a viable scheme is identified then funding would be made available for the construction and delivery of a flood relief scheme for Donegal Town. In addition a number of additional posts have been funded in Donegal County Council by the OPW to assist in progressing this work.

The pilot is expected to take some 18 months from the recruitment by Donegal County Council of three additional staff to its Flood Relief Unit. The procurement of these staff is close to completion as an additional senior executive engineer and executive engineer are now in place, with the remaining assistant staff officer still to be recruited.

Donegal County Council can also implement 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.

A minor works application was approved for Donegal Town by the OPW in 2019 for the Clareden Drive area. Donegal County Council completed several minor interventions using these funds, including replacement of an undersized culvert in the Brookfield area and vegetation clearance to improve conveyance along the River Eske. Furthermore, non-return valves were installed at Clareden Drive to prevent backflow through the drainage system which has caused flooding during lower return period flows in the River Eske.