James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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92. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures he intends to take to streamline and simplify the delivery of flood relief initiatives, as set out in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5077/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works, as the lead agency for flood risk management, is coordinating the delivery of measures towards meeting the Government’s National Flood Risk Policy.

In 2018, the OPW completed the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State: the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme studied 80% of Ireland’s primary flood risk and identified solutions that can protect over 95% of that risk. Some 150 additional flood relief schemes were identified through this Programme.

The implementation of flood relief projects is a very complex process with significant challenges. Major flood relief schemes are large multiannual projects and involve complex engineering and construction operations that can impact on people's living, built and natural environment. They entail extensive landowner and stakeholder engagement and detailed environmental assessments and mitigation measures. Detailed technical analysis is required to establish the most appropriate solution, technically and environmentally, from a range of possible design options. The delivery process is lengthy and follows a number of stages from feasibility through design, planning, detailed design and construction.

To date, the OPW has invested some €570m in 55 completed schemes that are providing protection to over 13,500 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion.

Since 2018, a phased approach to scheme delivery, in partnership with local authorities, has allowed the OPW to treble the number of schemes at design or construction at this time to some 100 schemes. The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of these flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan. As well as a financial commitment to meet costs, progressing this significantly increased number of flood relief schemes requires capacity and capability in highly specialized areas of engineering.

The OPW is piloting a new delivery model for flood relief schemes through four Tranche II schemes in counties Kilkenny and Donegal, which is referred to as the Tranche II Pilot. There are two Tranche II Pilot Schemes in County Kilkenny (Freshford and Piltown) and two schemes in County Donegal (Donegal Town and Letterkenny).

The Tranche II Pilot will transfer the management of data gathering, as a first step in designing a scheme, from consultant engineers for a single scheme to the local authorities for all schemes in the Pilot and, where feasible, within their areas of responsibility. The Pilot means that data gathering may be scaled up from individual communities to all schemes in a county. The Pilot will better inform the prioritisation of future schemes nationally and the scope of services required from consultants to design and construct flood relief schemes.

The Pilot’s Technical Working Group and Steering Group have been established, with both groups having recently met in late 2024. Significant preparatory work is underway, with the range of information and data-gathering requirements currently being considered and outlined.

It is also worth noting that local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and each County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources.

Local Authorities may also apply to the OPW for funding of flood mitigation works under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.

The scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects, with the balance being funded by the Local Authority concerned. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria, which comprise economic, social and environmental criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.

The Office of Public Works, as the lead agency for flood risk management, is coordinating the delivery of measures towards meeting the Government’s National Flood Risk Policy.

In 2018, the OPW completed the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State: the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme studied 80% of Ireland’s primary flood risk and identified solutions that can protect over 95% of that risk. Some 150 additional flood relief schemes were identified through this Programme.

The implementation of flood relief projects is a very complex process with significant challenges. Major flood relief schemes are large multiannual projects and involve complex engineering and construction operations that can impact on people's living, built and natural environment. They entail extensive landowner and stakeholder engagement and detailed environmental assessments and mitigation measures. Detailed technical analysis is required to establish the most appropriate solution, technically and environmentally, from a range of possible design options. The delivery process is lengthy and follows a number of stages from feasibility through design, planning, detailed design and construction.

To date, the OPW has invested some €570m in 55 completed schemes that are providing protection to over 13,500 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion.

Since 2018, a phased approach to scheme delivery, in partnership with local authorities, has allowed the OPW to treble the number of schemes at design or construction at this time to some 100 schemes. The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of these flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan. As well as a financial commitment to meet costs, progressing this significantly increased number of flood relief schemes requires capacity and capability in highly specialized areas of engineering.

The OPW is piloting a new delivery model for flood relief schemes through four Tranche II schemes in counties Kilkenny and Donegal, which is referred to as the Tranche II Pilot. There are two Tranche II Pilot Schemes in County Kilkenny (Freshford and Piltown) and two schemes in County Donegal (Donegal Town and Letterkenny).

The Tranche II Pilot will transfer the management of data gathering, as a first step in designing a scheme, from consultant engineers for a single scheme to the local authorities for all schemes in the Pilot and, where feasible, within their areas of responsibility. The Pilot means that data gathering may be scaled up from individual communities to all schemes in a county. The Pilot will better inform the prioritisation of future schemes nationally and the scope of services required from consultants to design and construct flood relief schemes.

The Pilot’s Technical Working Group and Steering Group have been established, with both groups having recently met in late 2024. Significant preparatory work is underway, with the range of information and data-gathering requirements currently being considered and outlined.

It is also worth noting that local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and each County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources.

Local Authorities may also apply to the OPW for funding of flood mitigation works under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.

The scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects, with the balance being funded by the Local Authority concerned. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria, which comprise economic, social and environmental criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.