Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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38. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on any property protection schemes for east Cork relating to flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59696/25]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of a flood project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60451/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 96 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 remains 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 currently leading the delivery of six flood relief schemes, including Midleton, with nine Tranche II schemes, including Castlemartyr, Youghal and Rathcormac to be delivered within the lifetime of the National Development Plan to protect the people of Midleton and East Cork from their flood risk. The Office of Public Works, (OPW), is funding nine staff in Cork County Council to support the delivery of this programme of schemes, and other schemes across the county including in Mogeely and Killeagh. Four of these staff are working full time on the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme.

The OPW is piloting a new delivery model in Counties Donegal and Kilkenny to inform delivery of future Tranche 2 schemes nationally. Ultimately, the Pilot will inform the delivery model to be applied for the future tranche of schemes and in doing so, will be relevant to all schemes nationwide.

The Midleton Flood Relief Scheme, which will protect up to 750 properties is currently estimated to be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála under the Planning and Development Acts in Q2 2026 and is anticipated to reach substantial completion in 2031.

Cork County Council is engaging with landowners, whose lands have been identified as needed for the scheme. Work is ongoing on environmental surveys and assessments which are required to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. Cork County Council, in June 2025, submitted the Marine Area Consent Application to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA).

Many interim measures have been introduced across Midleton and East Cork following Storm Babet in October 2023, including river cleaning.

A part 8 planning application for advance works at Tir Cluain, to protect up to 135 properties has been published by Cork County Council and is available to the public online and at the Planning Department, Cork County Hall and at Cork County Council East Cork Municipal District Offices at Midleton Lodge and Mall House, Youghal with submissions/observations to be made before 4pm on 11th November 2025. A public information evening on these planned works took place on 23rd October 2025. Subject to a successful planning application construction works are planned to commence in late summer/early autumn 2026.

In October 2024, the OPW approved €5.8m in funding for Cork County Council to make Individual Property Protection (IPP) available free of charge to some 725 homes and businesses in Midleton and across East Cork who were impacted by Storm Babet in October 2023. This forms part of the Council’s emergency response plans for these areas. The scheme requires some 2,000 flood barriers and a significant number of these need civil works to have them installed. The Council is continuing to procure flood gates and civil works contractors to deliver the scale of this programme as quickly as possible. Cork County Council and the OPW are keeping the delivery of this IPP scheme under review.

A quarterly update by Cork County Council on the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme and the Individual Property Protection scheme was presented at the Midleton Flood Committee meeting on 9th October 2025 and the next update is scheduled for 22nd January 2026. This Committee consists of local elected representatives, members of the business community and the wider community.

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme (Minor Works Scheme) was introduced by the OPW in 2009. The purpose of this scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake short-term measures in the form of minor flood mitigation works to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative area. The scheme applies, where a flood defence solution can be readily identified and achieved within a relatively short timeframe, whilst all works must comply with relevant regulatory frameworks.

Following the devastating flooding caused by Storm Babet in October 2023, some €321,000 has been approved for the communities of East Cork under the Minor Works Scheme, as set out under:

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the advancement of tranche 2 flood defence projects for two locations in County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60177/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State, was completed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2018. The CFRAM programme studied 80% of Ireland's primary flood risk and identified measures to protect over 95% of that risk. The 29 Flood Risk Management Plans were a key output of CFRAM, identifying proposed flood relief measures nationwide. The Government is committed to funding these projects through the €1.3bn available under the National Development Plan.

It is not possible to progress all 150 new and additional flood relief schemes identified by the Flood Risk Management Plans simultaneously, due to the limited availability of the required professional and specialised engineering skills in the OPW, local authorities, and in the consultancy market. Since 2018, and working with local authorities, the OPW has trebled, to some 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning, or construction in Tranche 1.

To date, the OPW has completed nine flood relief schemes in County Cork. This includes the Bandon, Clonakilty, Douglas, Dunmanway, Fermoy North, Fermoy South, Mallow North, Mallow South & West, and Skibbereen flood relief schemes. These completed schemes protect 1,750 properties from flooding.

Currently, there are ten major flood relief schemes at development and design or construction stage in County Cork: Ballinhassig, Ballymakeera/Ballyvourney, Bantry, River Bride (Blackpool), Carrigaline, Glashaboy, Lower Lee (Cork City), Macroom, Midleton, and Morrison’s Island. Once completed, these ten schemes will provide protection to a further circa 3,800 properties. The OPW is funding nine engineering staff in Cork County Council to support its delivery of flood relief schemes.

Under the national programme, work has yet to commence on some 50 Tranche 2 flood relief schemes. Planning for the delivery of these schemes has commenced through the Tranche 2 Pilot. Ultimately, the Pilot will inform the delivery model to be applied for the future tranche of schemes and, in doing so, will be relevant to all schemes nationwide. There are a further nine proposed flood relief schemes in Tranche 2 throughout County Cork, including Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh.

The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme (Minor Works Scheme) was introduced by the Office of Public Works (OPW) 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 flooding or coastal erosion problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. Applications for funding from local authorities are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, technical, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost-benefit ratio. I recently announced that an increase in funding supports are to be made available to local authorities under the Minor Works Scheme, including an increase in the upper Minor Works threshold from €750,000 to €2,000,000.

To date, some €7m has been approved for over 50 projects in County Cork under the Minor Works scheme. Further details are available at www.floodinfo.ie/minor-works/.