Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a reply will issue to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41686/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for leading and co-ordinating the implementation of Ireland’s national flood policy, which includes the development of a planned programme of feasible works for flood relief schemes.

In 2018, to facilitate the development of a programme of works, the OPW completed a strategic study - the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM programme resulted in the publication of 29 Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs), which identified and described the flood risk in various river basins (including the Barrow River Basin and the town of Mountmellick) and potentially viable flood relief works.

To facilitate the progression of potentially viable flood relief works in Mountmellick, Laois County Council (LCC) agreed, with the support of the OPW, to lead the further detailed assessment of the flood risk, design options and environmental assessments to support a planning application for a viable scheme. Additionally, LCC engaged the services of an engineering consultant to facilitate the progression of the Mountmellick Flood Relief Scheme (FRS).

The Mountmellick FRS is currently approaching the end of Stage 1 (Scheme Development and Preliminary Design) with the selection of a preferred option identified, which involves flood defences such as embankments, walls, culvert upgrades and a bridge replacement over the Owenass River that will provide protection to approximately 127 properties against flooding. The preferred option was selected based on a range of criteria including economic, environmental and ecological impact, climate change adaptability and consideration of the feedback which arose during the public and stakeholder consultation process.

Arising from a Public Information Day in September 2023, LCC received communications from residents of Derrycloney within Mountmellick who expressed concerns regarding the impact of the proposed Mountmellick FRS. In order to consider these concerns, a number of meetings were held between the Derrycloney residents, LCC and the scheme consultant in the intervening period, with the OPW also attending a meeting with Derrycloney residents at LCC’s offices on the 2 July 2024.

At the July 2024 meeting, it was agreed that additional work be carried out by the scheme consultant to specifically investigate the concerns raised by the residents. It is currently envisaged that a report will be finalised by the scheme’s consultant prior to the end of November 2024, which will be subsequently communicated to the Derrycloney residents.