James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the Midleton flood relief scheme; if he will provide a further update on the works in Rathcormac; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28164/25]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline a timeline of his Department’s Plan to push tranche 2 flood schemes forward to tranche 1 in County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28163/25]

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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154. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on the progress of Department schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28177/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 110 and 154 together.

To date, six communities across Cork County are protected from significant flood risk by completed flood relief schemes.

Since 2018, and working with local authorities, the OPW has trebled, to some 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction. There remain some 50 schemes, referred to as Tranche II, identified by the Flood Risk Management Plans, yet to commence work on their design, due to constraints of professional engineering services and skills in Ireland. However, the Government is committed to funding these projects through the €1.3bn available under the National Development Plan for flood relief measures.

The Flood Risk Management Plans 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 with nine Tranche II, including Castlemartyr, Youghal and Rathcormac. The OPW is funding nine staff in Cork County Council to support its delivery of this programme of schemes, and other schemes across the county including in Mogeely and Killeagh. The OPW is actively engaging with delivery partners and other stakeholders on lessons learned and is piloting a new delivery model in Counties Donegal and Kilkenny to inform delivery of future Tranche II schemes nationally.

The Midleton Flood Relief Scheme, to protect up to 750 properties, is being led by Cork County Council and currently is estimated for submission to An Bord Pleanála under the Planning and Development Acts by early 2026 and for substantial completion in 2031. Planning application for advance works at Tir Cluain, to protect 111 of these properties, is scheduled for Q2 2025. 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 works in Midleton since Storm Babet in October 2023.

Cork County Council progressed interim flood mitigation measures, for Rathcormac, which were funded under Climate Adaptation and Resilience local grants. These works included the installation of a flood embankment, upgrade of storm infrastructure, drainage channel clearing and works to roads to improve drainage.

In January and May 2025, Cork County Council submitted applications for funding under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for a study into the potential for Natural Water Retention Measures and to procure a consultant to undertake hydrological and hydraulic modelling of the streams and rivers in the vicinity of Mogeely Village, identify surveys and make recommendations as to other flood protection measures which could be undertaken to mitigate flooding in the village. These applications are under review by the OPW that is liaising with Cork County Council.

This Minor Works Scheme provides 90% funding to local authorities for localised mitigation works up to a value of €750,000. It is a demand driven scheme and it is open to local authorities to make an application to the OPW under the scheme’s criteria.

The OPW approved funding under this scheme for flood mitigation works in Castlemartyr and Killeagh in September 2024. Works included gravel removal, river cleaning and minor drainage upgrades to the rivers Kiltha and Dissour. The Council have advised that they are currently investigating additional interim works for 2025.

The villages of Castlemartyr, Mogeely and Killeagh are included in the Midleton and East Cork Individual Property Protection Scheme, which is a Cork County Council scheme with €5.8m funding by the OPW. Under this scheme, property owners who experienced flooding during Storm Babet (October 2023) were eligible to apply for receipt of Individual Property Protection measures. Property surveys for some 800 properties are now completed and floodgate delivery to suitable properties has commenced.