Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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98. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform whether the independent property protection scheme is available to people living in Blackpool, Cork, who are awaiting flood relief in the wake of storm Babet. [41672/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am fully aware of the devastation that Storm Babet had on people, families, businesses and communities in Co. Cork. The proposed Bride River Flood Relief Scheme (Blackpool FRS) includes conveyance improvements, flood defence embankments, walls and pumping stations. The scheme was initiated in 2013 following major flooding in 2012, and is expected to provide protection from the Bride River for some 293 properties (206 residential and 87 commercial). The scheme has an estimated budget of €20.5 million.

The scheme was sent to the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) for confirmation in 2018 with confirmation granted in 2021. In June 2021, this decision was challenged by a community group and was granted leave to apply for a Judicial Review of the decision. DPENDR agreed to consent to an order reverting the evaluation of the Blackpool FRS back for further public consultation, and this resulted in further information being requested from the OPW in support of the request for consent under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945.

The OPW provided a response to this request in October 2022. In November 2023, DPENDR requested supplementary environmental information that required some additional surveys. The OPW’s environmental consultant advised, that due to the seasonal nature of required surveys necessary to fulfil this request, that the most appropriate time to conduct these surveys was during the spring and summer months of 2024. The further information is estimated to be submitted to DPENDR by the end of November 2024.

I have recently announced €5.8m in funding from the OPW to Cork County Council for the installation of Individual Property Protection measures to some 920 homeowners and businesses impacted by the October 2023 flood event during Storm Babet across Midleton and East Cork. The Individual Property Protection scheme is intended to help reduce the impact of flooding, mitigating the damage caused to people’s property. Details of the Midleton and East Cork Individual Property Protection Scheme are available on the Council’s website: www.corkcoco.ie - the scheme will form a part of Cork County Council’s Emergency Response Plan.

Blackpool is within the administrative area of Cork City Council. It is open to Cork City Council to introduce localised flood mitigation measures with funding from the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme ahead of the completion of the Blackpool FRS for the benefit of the community. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake short-term measures in the form of minor flood mitigation works including Individual Property Protection measures 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.