Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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393. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department is aware that some residents in Midleton County Cork (Willowbank)missed the deadline for applying for flood prevention barriers for their homes despite the fact that these homeowners paid for their own flood prevention barriers and now have no recourse to claim back the monies they spent purchasing and installing these barriers; if his Department has any way of compensating these homeowners who are now out of pocket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39390/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In October 2024, the Office of Public Works approved €5.8m in funding for Cork County Council to make Individual Property Protection (IPP) available free of charge to an estimated 923 home and business owners who were impacted by Storm Babet (October 2023) in Midleton (749) and East Cork (174).

The Midleton and East Cork IPP Scheme, which is a Cork County Council scheme opened for applications on 7th October to all households and businesses in the affected areas. Applications for the scheme were accepted until the 18th November 2024.

The circa 923 properties were pre-approved by Cork County Council in advance of the launch of the scheme for inclusion in the scheme (i.e. pre-approved for assessment by engineers to determine each property’s suitability for IPP measures). The properties are located across East Cork, including properties in Midleton, Castlemartyr, Mogeely, Killeagh, Rathcormac, Youghal and other properties that Cork County Council is aware flooded during storm Babet including residents of Willowbank. The scheme was also open to others who were impacted by Storm Babet.

The IPP scheme included a retrospective scheme whereby property owners who had sourced and purchased IPP independently since Storm Babet and prior to the roll out of the scheme could seek reimbursement (up to a limit in line with the scheme terms and conditions) of costs incurred. This scheme was open to applicants who had proof of builders’ works costs (for works related to the installation of IPP measures) and/or purchase of suitable IPP between 18/10/23 and 7/10/24. Cork County Council has not been contacted by any residents who missed the deadline for application to this retrospective scheme. Cork County Council has also advised that they do not propose to extend the retrospective scheme for property owners who purchase IPP beyond these dates. It remains open for Cork County Council to liaise with the OPW should the need arise.