Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on flood protection measures currently being undertaken in Rathcormac, Killeagh, Mogeely, Castlemartyr and Midleton in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39572/25]

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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53. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 25 of 9 July 2025, if his Department will liaise directly with Cork County Council to consider re-opening the retrospective element of the Midleton and east Cork individual property protection (IPP) scheme to applicants who are seeking the installation of higher barriers for the protection of their property than what is currently being provided, and who, having received quotations, did not proceed with the original installation of such barriers by a private contractor given their expected availability under the finalised IPP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39571/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 53 together.

The launch in 2018 of the Flood Risk Management Plans trebled, to some 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction. There remain some 50 schemes, referred to as Tranche II, 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.

Cork County Council is leading the delivery of six flood relief schemes, including Midleton, 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 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 currently estimated to be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála in early 2026 and for substantial completion in 2031. A Planning application for advance works at Tir Cluain, to protect 111 of these properties, is scheduled for submission as a Part 8 application later this year with construction planned to commence in late summer/ early autumn 2026.

Cork County Council has begun to engage with landowners and on environmental surveys and assessments required to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

The Council have completed 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, Castlemartyr and Killeagh and is liaising with the Office of Public Works on interim measures for Mogeely.

In October 2024, the OPW approved €5.8m in funding for Cork County Council to make Individual Property Protection available free of charge to home and business owners in Midleton and across East Cork who were impacted by Storm Babet in October 2023. This included retrospective payment to property owners who had purchased suitable Individual Property Protection (IPP) measures between 18 October 2023 to 7 October 2024.

Following a review of all applications there were 725 valid applications. Cork County Council is, since April 2025, delivering flood barriers to properties where no civil works is required.

The Council is fully aware of the urgent nature of this unprecedented project and is constrained by the response from the market for supply of flood barriers and civil works contractors. Cork County Council and the OPW are keeping the delivery of IPP under review and will explore any viable alternative delivery models, if required, to expedite the roll out of the scheme.

Cork County Council has advised that the standard height of barrier being delivered under this scheme is 680mm which is the accepted industry standard height for flood barriers. This is in line with best practice guidance from the United Kingdom to avoid potential structural damage to properties. No review of the scheme’s criteria is being considered.

A quarterly update to elected representatives, members of the business community and the wider community, by Cork County Council on the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme and Individual Property Protection Scheme is taking place today, 17th July 2025.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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36. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 100 of 13 February 2025, for an update on the Coirib go Cósta project; the timeline for its delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39985/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme was the largest study of flood risk in the country, studying the flood risk for some two thirds of the population. Following and based on the CFRAM study, Galway City Council appointed consultant engineers in November 2020 to design an option to protect the city from a significant flood event in the future. The work completed by the consultants has identified that the scale of flood risk in Galway City is much greater than that identified in the strategic CFRAM study.

A revised scope reflecting the additional works for the Scheme was presented by the Scheme’s consultants to Galway City Council, the Lead Authority for the Scheme. The Scheme was originally intended to protect 312 properties, whereas the revised Scheme will be designed to protect some 1,079 properties.

The revised scope includes quay walls that will extend from the Galway dock area, continuing along Long Walk and Spanish Arch. The properties in the Claddagh area, along Grattan road and Father Griffin road will be protected by the construction of a quay wall along the Claddagh basin and Nimmo's pier. Flood defences along the property line, localised land and road raising in Salthill will manage wave overtopping risks.

The Council submitted a request for additional funding to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for an increase in consultancy fees to facilitate the revised scope, and this was subsequently approved by the OPW in June 2024. The revised programme was published on the scheme website in January 2025, with the scheme currently progressing with options development. A scheme Options workshop for the steering group took place in April 2025 and a Public Consultation Day was held in Salthill on 17^th June and Galway City on 18^th June 2025 which gave the public an opportunity to view the potential flood defence design options and give feedback. The opportunity for the public to view and comment on the design options remains open until 18^th July 2025.

Thereafter, taking into consideration the feedback from the public, the emerging preferred option will be significantly developed by the scheme consultants in conjunction with Galway City Council, and it is anticipated that this will be finalised by early 2026.

The emerging preferred option will then be brought to the public for review early in 2026. The Council has advised that due to the scale and complexity of this scheme, that the planning documentation preparation, Natura Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Assessment Report will require significant work and level of detail similar to that of preliminary detailed design. Therefore, it is estimated that submission for planning will occur in late 2028.

In June 2025 I met personally with Galway City Council personnel to discuss the progression of this project and look forward to viewing the emerging preferred option once available early next year.