Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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671. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on and progress of the Inistioge flood defence scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20713/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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672. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the progress of the Ballyhale flood defence scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20714/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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673. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the and progress of the Piltown flood defence scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20715/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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674. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the and progress of the Thomastown flood defence scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20716/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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675. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the and progress of the Freshford flood defence scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20717/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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676. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the and progress of the Graiguenamanagh flood defence scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20733/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 671, 672, 673, 674, 675 and 676 together.

Graiguenmanagh Flood Relief Scheme

A Flood Relief Scheme has been identified for Graiguenmanagh, County Kilkenny, which will be funded under the Government's flood risk management investment programme of almost €1.3 billion under the National Development Plan to 2030.

The towns of Graiguenmanagh in County Kilkenny and Tinnahinch in County Carlow have a history of flooding. They are separated by the River Barrow which causes flooding when the channel exceeds its capacity. Additionally, Graiguenmanagh experiences flooding from the River Duiske. The objective of the flood relief scheme is to ensure that the identified preferred option is technically, economically, socially and environmentally viable.

The Graiguenmanagh-Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme (GTFRS) commenced in March 2020. Ayesa (formerly Byrne Looby) were appointed as the engineering and environmental consultants. This scheme's design is very advanced and a Preferred Option for Graiguenmanagh-Tinnahinch has been identified. This includes raised defences on the River Barrow along with raised defences and an upstream storage area on the River Duiske to prevent flooding. Where possible, new flood defence walls will replace existing walls throughout the scheme. These hard defences will protect properties from the 1% AEP (100 year) fluvial flood event. A total of 84 properties will be protected 31 Residential and 53 Commercial properties.

To date there has been 3 public consultations the most recent of which was on 23 January, 2025 when a non-statutory Public Display Day of the Preferred Option was held in Graiguenamanagh. Kilkenny County Council are currently engaging with those landowners that will be affected by the scheme. It is currently programmed for Kilkenny County Council to submit the Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme for planning permission in Q3 of 2025.

Further information can be found on the project website .

Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme

The Ballyhale FRS commenced in April 2020. DBFL were appointed as the engineering and environmental consultants. The Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme went for Planning in May, 2023. As part of the flood relief scheme two applications to An Bord Pleananla were required, a Section 177AE and Section 175 Planning Application and a Compulsory Purchase Order application.

There were a number of extensions to the date for a planning decision. Planning permission was granted with conditions on 22 August, 2024.

This scheme will include the following measures:-

• Upstream embankments
• A new Channel will be created re-connecting all outlet barrels from the bridge into the western river branch and removing the flow split.
• Flood Defences will be created where required between the western channel and the properties at risk on Main St.
• The existing weir at the BallyhaleBusiness Park will be removed allowing the channel gradient to be increased along this section which increases capacity.
• A low wall is proposed alongside the road to prevent out of bank flows emerging onto the road surface.
• Minor works will be carried out at the existing Main St Bridge to improve inlet conditions. The above measures protect 28 properties, 20 residential and 8 commercial properties from the 1% AEP (100 year) fluvial event.

Tranche 2 Flood Relief Schemes

As part of the Flood Risk Management Plans some 50 schemes nationally were identified as Tranche 2 schemes. These tranche two schemes include Thomastown, Inistioge, Freshford and Piltown in County Kilkenny. Funding for these schemes will be provided under the Government’s flood risk investment programme of €1.3 billion under the National Development Plan to 2030.

Thomastown and Inistioge Flood Relief Schemes

While the proposed schemes in Thomastown and Inistioge are not in the first tranche of some 100 flood relief schemes being progressed, the OPW continues to liaise closely with Kilkenny County Council to ensure that the programme of flood relief projects identified for Co. Kilkenny is kept under review, and that all projects will be commenced as soon as possible.

The OPW is currently trialling a new national delivery model for flood relief schemes towards a more efficient means of delivering all 50 schemes in the second tranche of schemes, including Thomastown and Inistioge. The pilot includes Kilkenny County Council trialling a new delivery model for Piltown and Freshford.

Pending the commencement of the major schemes for Thomastown and Inistioge, it is open to Kilkenny County Council to apply for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Under this scheme, applications by local authorities for localised flood mitigation measures 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. 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 .

Freshford and Piltown Flood Relief Schemes

Tranche 2 Pilot

On 2 May 2023, the then Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, announced that the OPW would pilot a new delivery model through four Tranche 2 flood relief schemes in Counties Donegal and Kilkenny. Specifically, the Pilot involves schemes for Freshford and Piltown in County Kilkenny, and Donegal Town and Letterkenny in County Donegal.

The 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. As well as bringing economies of scale, the gathered data can then better inform the prioritisation of schemes and the scope of services required from consultants to design and construct flood relief schemes.

Ultimately, the Pilot will inform the delivery model to be applied for the future tranche of schemes nationally and, in doing so, will be relevant to all schemes.

Kilkenny County Council are now at the stage of commencing surveying works for Freshford and Piltown.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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677. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the status of flood defence and relief plans in Clontarf;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20745/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Dublin City Council (DCC) is leading the development and design of a flood relief scheme for the Clontarf seafront, as part of the Clontarf Flood Relief Scheme. DCC has also recently developed a framework agreement for Consultant Engineering Design Services for a range of proposed projects, including the Clontarf Flood Relief Scheme.

DCC is currently engaging with the Office of Public Works (OPW) with regard to the progression of a viable flood relief scheme for Clontarf seafront. The OPW has received a preliminary pre-feasibility report for a flood relief scheme for Clontarf from DCC, and is currently liaising with DCC on this report.

Progressing a viable flood relief scheme for Clontarf, is to be funded by the OPW through the €1.3bn for flood relief measures under the National Development Plan to 2030, and will be in line with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines, with DCC as the Sponsoring Agency and the OPW as the Approving Authority.