Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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785. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures that have been taken to address flooding in Listowel and Killocrim, to prevent it from taking place this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40867/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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To date, the OPW has invested some €570m in 55 completed schemes that are providing protection to over 13,500 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion.

Since 2018, a phased approach to scheme delivery, in partnership with local authorities, has allowed the OPW to treble the number of schemes at design or construction at this time to some 100 schemes. Work on the design of some 50 schemes, identified by the 2018, Flood Risk Management Plans and referred to as Tranche 2 schemes, has not yet begun. Progressing this significantly increased number of flood relief schemes requires capacity and capability in highly specialised areas of engineering.

The Government has committed to investing some €81m for the design and implementation of flood relief schemes for Co. Kerry. Tralee, Kenmare, Abbeydorney and Banna are in the first tranche of schemes to be progressed with Dingle, Killarney, Ballylongford, Listowel and Castleisland/Tullig in the second tranche.

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. While these measures are operationally complete, the final completion is expected in September 2025.

Following a flood event in Listowel in November 2024, Kerry County Council engaged consultants to provide a report on the flood event. The findings were presented to Kerry Municipal District on 30th April, 2025 and are now available to the public. Kerry County Council has discussed the findings of this report with the OPW.

Kerry County Council has recently requested the consultant to assess the delivery programme for the recommended short term measures, including heightening embankments at Killocrim. Once complete this assessment, that may require hydraulic modelling, will inform a meeting with the OPW over the coming weeks to discuss implementation and funding mechanisms for any viable measures. Any requirement for any environmental assessments for these works will inform the timeline for their delivery.

It will then be open to Kerry County Council to apply to the OPW for funding for temporary or interim measures, pending the commencement of the Listowel Flood Relief Scheme. My Officials will continue to engage with Kerry Council and their consultants in this regard.

Minor Works

Funding for these measures can be considered through the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This Minor Works Scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. The works to be funded are carried out under Local Authority powers and ongoing maintenance of the completed works is the responsibility of the Council. Since 2009, the OPW has approved €4.2m for Kerry County Council under this scheme.

River Feale Drainage Maintenance

The OPW has a statutory duty to maintain the River Feale Catchment Drainage Scheme that was completed in 1957 to improve the drainage to agricultural lands. In line with our statutory responsibilities, the OPW completes its statutory maintenance of this scheme, to the standard this drainage scheme was constructed that are for flood events with a low return period between 1 in 3 year to 1 in 5 year.

While the standard of protection from this completed Catchment Drainage Scheme did provide a level of protection to Listowel and Killocrim during the flood event in November 2024, the extreme severity of this particular flood event was such that it exceeded the standard of protection provided by this Catchment Drainage Scheme.

Flood Risk Management Plan for Listowel

The need for a flood relief scheme for Listowel was identified by the Flood Risk Management Plans. The scoping of the benefitting area for the Listowel Flood Relief Scheme will consider the viability of the inclusion of the Killocrim area, that was not considered in the Flood Risk Management Plan.