Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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356. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform what plans, schemes or supports he and the Office of Public Works have to ensure that the flooding that took place in Tallow, County Waterford, during Storm Babet, causing severe damage to homes and businesses, will not occur under similar conditions in the future; if he will prioritise funding and resources to undertake works on the River Bride; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3435/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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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 major 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 Blackwater (Munster) River Basin, whose main rivers includes the river Blackwater and its tributaries, the Allow and the Bride (that flows through part of Co. Cork and Co. Waterford including the town of Tallow). The CFRAM programme did not propose structural flood risk management options for Tallow.

The OPW is aware that in October 2023 a flood event occurred in Tallow due to Storm Babet, which resulted in several properties been flooded. The OPW has since liaised with Waterford City and County Council (“the Council”) in relation to this flood event. The Council confirmed that during Storm Babet there was unprecedented hydraulic flows in the Glenaboy river, which resulted in flood water flowing out onto West Street in Tallow.

Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and that Local Authorities can apply to the OPW for funding under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to address local flooding issues. The purpose of this Scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial 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 are available on the OPW’s floodinfo website - .

The OPW Engineering team will be meeting with Waterford County Council over the coming weeks and will discuss the flooding at Tallow and measures open to the Council to manage that risk.