Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date with the proposed Cavan town drainage scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39853/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme, (CFRAM), the largest study of flood risk was completed by the Office of Public Works (OPW), in 2018. Since 2018, and working with local authorities, the OPW has trebled, to some 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction.

Cavan County Council is the lead authority for the delivery of Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme. The OPW is funding 1.5 Whole Time Equivalent staff members in Cavan County Council to lead the delivery of flood projects across the county and the Council is working in partnership with the OPW.

Engineering and environmental consultants were appointed to the scheme in May 2022. The development of Cavan Town Flood Relief Scheme is overseen by a project Steering Group with representatives meeting monthly from the OPW and Cavan County Council. There are five distinct, sequential and related stages in the scheme development. Aligned to the decision gateways of the Infrastructure Guidelines these stages are assessing the flood risk and identifying options; seeking planning consent, detailed design, construction and maintenance. Public consultation forms part of the design and planning stages and the project website available on floodinfo.ie provides updates on the schemes progress.

Emerging options for the scheme are expected in Q1 2026 and the next public consultation day is planned for Q1 2026. The preferred option, once selected, is due to be submitted for planning in Q3 2027. This scheme is funded by the OPW from the Government's €1.3bn investment in flood measures under the National Development Plan.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the up-to-date position on advancing flood defence works in the Upper River Lee area of County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40141/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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To date, six communities across Cork County are protected from significant flood risk by completed flood relief schemes in Bandon, Clonakilty, Douglas, Dunmanway, Fermoy and Mallow.

Cork County Council with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW), for nine staff is leading the delivery of six flood relief schemes in the initial tranche of schemes, nationally, with nine additional schemes planned.

Cork County Council, is proactively progressing a preferred option for a viable flood relief scheme for Baile Mhuirne & Baile Mhic Íre that will protect 90 properties from significant risk of flooding. Cork County Council, the lead authority and the OPW met earlier this month and are engaging proactively to progress the scheme and are due to meet again shortly. This engagement seeks to identify the most efficient delivery model for the scheme and will inform the scheme programme, timeline and budget for the delivery of the Baile Mhuirne & Baile Mhic Íre flood relief scheme.

In the interim, Cork County Council commissioned consultants to complete the design of interim flood relief measures for Baile Mhuirne & Baile Mhic Íre. The OPW has approved funding of some €500,000 to Cork County Council under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for the provision of temporary flood defence measures in this area. The completed works include a sand bag defence structure, increasing the ground level with ramps and the installation of two non-return valves.

The commitment by the Government since 2018 of €1.3bn under the National Development Plan for flood relief measures has allowed the OPW, nationally, to treble the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction to some 100. Due to the constraints in specialised engineering resources to design flood relief schemes, it was not possible, in 2018, to start work on all flood relief schemes identified by the Flood Risk Management Plans. The proposed flood relief schemes at Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh are two such schemes where funding is committed when specialised resources become available to commence design works. Given the time it takes to deliver flood relief schemes, the OPW is trialling a new delivery model that may inform the approach to delivery of these schemes.

The OPW has approved funding of €130,000 to Cork County Council for river cleaning and maintenance works in Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh and it is open to Cork County to introduce further interim measures to mitigate against flood risk in these communities through the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme in advance of a flood relief scheme for these areas.