Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans in place to protect the Kerry coastline from coastal erosion and tidal flooding and the main towns of Tralee, Kenmare and Listowel from flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18062/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Government is investing €81m in Kerry as part of the €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan.

As it is not feasible to deliver all flood relief schemes concurrently, due to constraints on the specialised engineering skills, the flood-relief delivery programme was subdivided into two tranches, focusing initially on Tranche I schemes and those already in the delivery pipeline. Kerry County Council is leading the delivery of schemes for Tralee, Kenmare, Abbeydorney and Banna in this first tranche, with three staff funded by the OPW to project manage the delivery of these schemes.

Tralee and Kenmare

RPS Engineering and Environmental consultants were appointed in Q3 2021 to deliver a flood relief scheme for Tralee. Emerging options are scheduled to be identified in Q3 2025 and will be made available to the public for consultation. It is expected that this scheme will be submitted for planning in Q4 2026.

Ayesa Engineering and Environmental consultants were appointed in Q2 2022 to deliver a flood relief scheme for Kenmare. Assessing the flood risk in Kenmare is complex and it is expected the design option will be made available to the public for consultation early in 2026. Works on the Finnihy River were completed in early 2024, to mitigate the flood risk.

Listowel

While the proposed scheme in Listowel is not in the first tranche of projects to be progressed, the OPW, through Kerry County Council, is investing €2 million for advance measures in the Clieveragh area of Listowel to protect some 50 properties.

Following a flood event in Listowel in November 2024, Kerry County Council engaged consultants to provide a report on the flood event that was presented to Kerry Municipal District on 30th April, 2025 and the findings of the report are now available to the public.

Kerry County Council has recently requested the consultant to assess delivery programme for the recommended short term measures, including heightening embankments. This assessment will inform a planned meeting with the OPW over the coming weeks. Any requirement for any environmental assessments for these works will inform the timeline for their delivery.

Minor Works

An application by Kerry County Council for 90% funding under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Protection Works for Maherabeg Lower for rock armour revetment is under review by the OPW. Additional information has been sought by OPW from the Council to support its application.