Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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298. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on the progress of flood prevention measures for an area (details supplied); if the diversion of the local river around the town is still being considered as part of such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13794/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme, (CFRAM), the largest study of flood risk was completed by the Office of Public Works (OPW), in 2018. Since 2018, and working with local authorities, the OPW has trebled, to some 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction. As it is not feasible to deliver all flood relief schemes concurrently (due to limited capacity in OPW, the local authorities, and in the specialised consultancy market), the flood-relief delivery programme was subdivided into two tranches, focusing initially on Tranche I schemes and those already in the delivery pipeline. Under the national programme, work has yet to commence on the design of some 54 Tranche II flood relief schemes. Planning for the delivery of the Tranche II schemes has commenced through the Tranche II Pilot.

CFRAM identified fifteen additional flood relief schemes for Cork County. Under the national delivery model, Cork County Council is leading the delivery of six flood relief schemes in Tranche I, with nine schemes planned in Tranche II, including Castlemartyr. The OPW is funding nine staff in Cork County Council to support its delivery of this programme of schemes.

The Flood Risk Management Plan identified potentially viable flood relief works for Castlemartyr that may be implemented after project level assessment and planning or Exhibition and Confirmation which may include Flow Diversion & Flood Defences. The potentially viable flood relief works consist of the diversion of the Kiltha River around the town via an existing bypass channel through the grounds of the hotel and the construction of flood walls to protect vulnerable properties at the confluence of the Kiltha and the bypass channel. However, the proposed physical flood relief works or 'Schemes' set out in the Plans that have been developed through the CFRAM Programme are to an outline design, and are not at this point ready for construction. Further detailed design through a project-level of assessment will be required for such potential works before implementation, including local surveys, further public and stakeholder consultation and environmental assessment.

The OPW is piloting a new delivery model for flood relief schemes through four Tranche II schemes in counties Kilkenny and Donegal. 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 administrative areas. 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, including Castlemartyr, and the scope of services required from consultants to design and construct flood relief schemes. Significant preparatory work is underway, with the Pilot schemes’ range of information and data-gathering requirements currently being considered and outlined.

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. Applications for funding from local authorities for measures or studies costing up to €750,000 can be made under this scheme. Funding of up to 90% of the total cost is available, subject to meeting specific economic, technical, social, and environmental criteria.

In September 2024, the OPW approved funding of €81,800 under the aforementioned scheme for flood mitigation works in Castlemartyr. Works included cleaning of the Kiltha River channel and the removal of overhanging trees obstructing the river flow.

Castlemartyr is included in the Midleton and East Cork Individual Property Protection (IPP) Scheme, which is a Cork County Council scheme with €5.8m of funding by the OPW. Under this IPP Scheme, property owners who experienced flooding during Storm Babet (October 2023) are eligible to apply for receipt of IPP measures. Property surveys are ongoing with floodgate delivery to suitable properties commencing in the coming weeks.