Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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814. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures being considered due to climate change issues with particular reference to flooding preventions and land drainage management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42494/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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In 2018, the OPW completed the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State to identify those communities that are at risk from significant flood events. The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme and the subsequent Flood Risk Management Plans have provided the roadmap for the Government’s investment in flood relief schemes.

Nationally, 55 schemes have been completed to date which are providing protection to over 13,500 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. Today, work by the OPW is complete or underway to deliver protection to 80% of properties assessed to be at risk, with further schemes planned. When all schemes are completed, 95% of assessed properties will be protected from future flooding from river and coastal flood risk.

To complement the delivery of these major schemes, the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme provides funding to Local Authorities to provide local flooding solutions. Over 900 such projects have been approved, with allocated funding of some €69 million since 2009.

One of the many effects of climate change is that significant flooding events across Ireland will likely increase. The OPW’s Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Flood Risk Management 2019 – 2024 set out a number of actions to address these challenges. All new flood relief schemes are designed to take account of climate change and plans are being developed for the adaptation of existing schemes. In addition, the development of flood relief schemes now involves a specific requirement to assess the potential for nature-based solutions as part of the overall solution to managing flood risk for a particular community.

A new National Adaptation Framework was published in June 2024. This maintains flood risk management as one of the sectors for which Sectoral Adaptation Plans are required, with revised Sectoral Adaptation Plans due for completion in September 2025.

The OPW has recently published a for public consultation which is open until 15th August 2025. This Draft Plan has been prepared under the National Adaptation Framework and updates the former Plan using newly available information on climate change and its potential impacts, developments in flood risk management since 2019 and the Guidelines for the preparation of the Sectoral Adaptation Plans. The Draft Plan sets out flood risk management’s goal, objectives and adaptation actions needed to ensure effective and sustainable management of flood risk into the future.

Submissions on the Draft Plan can be made to: or posted to:-

The Office of Public Works, Public Consultation, Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Flood Risk Management, 1GQ, George's Quay, Dublin 2, D02 Y098.