Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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655. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the flood relief works that are being funded by the OPW and currently under construction; and when will each of those flood relief projects be completed, in tabular form. [20148/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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In 2018, the OPW completed the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme - the largest ever flood risk study in Ireland to date. This study involved an engineering assessment for 300 communities identified as areas of potentially significant flood risk, produced a range of flood maps for potential future as well as present-day conditions, and resulted in 29 Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) which are published on the OPW flood portal, www.floodinfo.ie.

The 29 FRMPs set out both structural and non-structural measures to manage the flood risk in the communities at potentially significant flood risk and elsewhere around the country. The FRMPs identified some 150 new and additional flood relief schemes to protect 95% of the properties at risk within those communities, together with the evidence to prioritise their delivery where the benefit is greatest. The residual risk is being addressed by the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, Individual Property Protection, Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme, enhanced preparedness and flood forecasting.

The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities throughout the country, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning or construction to some 100 schemes at this time.

Nationally, 55 schemes have been completed to date which are providing protection to over 13,500 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. Consequently, work to protect 80% of all at-risk properties nationally is completed or underway.

Flood Relief Schemes are large multiannual projects, involving complex engineering and construction operations that can impact on people's living, built and natural environment. The process is lengthy and detailed and follows five stages from feasibility through design, planning, and construction as follows:

• Stage 1 – Scheme Development and Preliminary Design
• Stage 2 – Planning Process or Public Exhibition & Confirmation
• Stage 3 – Detailed Design
• Stage 4 – Construction
• Stage 5 – Handover of Works.