Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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352. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 131 of 8 October 2024, to provide an update on flood risk management measures being considered for Water Rock, Midleton, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7992/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Midleton Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Cork County Council and is currently estimated for submission to An Bord Pleanála under the Planning and Development Acts by early 2026 and for substantial completion by 2031. Cork County Council has begun to engage with landowners, whose lands have been identified as needed for the scheme. Work is ongoing on environmental surveys and assessments which are required to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. The Council have progressed a number of Interim flood defence and potential advance works in Midleton since Storm Babet in October 2023. Other interim and advance flood mitigation works are under review by the Project Team which, where feasible, may be progressed ahead of the main scheme.

The options to manage the flood risk at Water Rock formed a part of the work on the scheme design for Midleton. While an economically viable option for Water Rock has not been identified to be included as part of the scheme at this time, the scheme’s consultants are conducting further investigations into potential flood risk management measures that might provide flood mitigation in Water Rock. These investigations are currently ongoing and subject to review by the Project Steering Group.

The OPW understands that Water Rock is included in the Midleton and East Cork Individual Property Protection Scheme, which is a Cork County Council scheme supported with €5.8m in funding from the OPW. Under this scheme, property owners who experienced flooding during Storm Babet are eligible to apply for receipt of Individual Property Protection measures. The scheme has now closed with surveys of properties eligible for the Individual Property Protection well advanced and the first delivery of floodgates expected in March 2025.