Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when flood defence works will commence for an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5067/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I understand the River Bride overtops its banks upstream and downstream of Crookstown Bridge. Flow paths through properties cause flooding on local and regional roads. The road drainage is unable to discharge to the river during a flood event.

The Lee Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme studied the flood risk at Crookstown and did not identify a viable scheme to manage the flood risk.

Since then Cork County Council has been pursuing other options to manage the flood risk at Crookstown. The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW in 2009. Applications for funding from local authorities are considered for flood relief and coastal 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 of this scheme are available on www.floodinfo.ie.

Funding approval under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of €295,027 was allocated to Cork County Council in 2021 for minor embankment and improvement works, construction of a flood defence, a storm water pumping station, new drainage pipes and associated works at Crookstown, Co. Cork. In its approval the OPW highlighted these works are a significant interim measure to mitigate flood damage in advance of further works.

While Cork County Council has not drawn down this approved funding it has been exploring additional sources of funding to allow an enhanced scheme to be developed, building on the elements of the approved OPW Minor Works Scheme.

I have asked my Officials to engage with Cork County Council over the coming weeks to discuss and identify a programme and plans for progressing these approved and other potential viable flood relief measures at Crookstown.