Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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436. 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 Kilkenny and County Carlow. [30452/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the largest study of flood risk in Ireland to date, was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. The 29 Flood Risk Management Plans were a key output of CFRAM, identifying proposed flood relief measures nationwide.

Since 2018, and working with local authorities, the OPW has trebled, to some 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning, or construction. There remain some 50 schemes, referred to as Tranche II, which were identified by the Flood Risk Management Plans and have yet to commence due to constraints in professional specialised engineering services and skills in Ireland. However, the Government is committed to funding these projects under the National Development Plan.

The Government is investing some €113m in flood relief schemes completed and underway across counties Kilkenny and Carlow.

Kilkenny County Council is leading the delivery of four flood relief schemes for Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch, Ballyhale, Piltown, and Freshford in the first tranche of schemes and piloting a new national delivery model. The OPW is funding two staff in Kilkenny County Council to project manage the delivery of these schemes. Carlow County Council is leading the delivery of the Carlow Town Flood Relief Scheme to protect 35 properties.

The OPW is piloting a new national delivery model for all Tranche II flood relief schemes, through four Tranche II schemes across counties Kilkenny and Donegal, including Freshford and Piltown. The pilot is changing how the data to inform scheme design is collected by the local authority. The outcome of the pilot will inform the delivery model nationally, including the three other Tranche II flood relief schemes in Kilkenny and Carlow: Inistioge, Thomastown, and Leighlinbridge.

The OPW continues to liaise closely with Kilkenny and Carlow County Councils to ensure that the programme of flood relief projects identified for these counties is kept under review, and to identify the optimal means of implementing flood relief measures for these areas.

It is also open to local authorities to apply to the OPW for 90% funding for other localised flood mitigation works, up to €750,000, through the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Since 2009, the OPW has approved some €2.9m for projects in counties Kilkenny and Carlow under this scheme.