Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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429. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will install a tidal flood barrier in Cork city given recent funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62087/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme - Ireland’s largest study of flood risk, was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two-thirds of the population against their risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. An output of the CFRAM Programme, the Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans, provide the evidence for a proactive approach for designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities. The delivery of these Plans is supported by €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan. To date, 56 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to some 13,580 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion.

The Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme (LLFRS) is the largest flood relief scheme in the State. It encompasses an area from Inniscarra Hydroelectric plant to the Port of Cork, some 16 kilometres away. The LLFRS is expected to provide protection against the 100-year fluvial flooding event from the River Lee and the 200-year tidal flooding event for 2,100 properties, 900 residential and 1,200 commercial.

The LLFRS is the result of over a decade of study utilising cutting edge technology to review the most recent data and science, alongside local community needs, and the current and future climate context which adopts a multifaceted approach and is the only viable solution to Cork’s flooding problem.

The LLFRS has carefully considered climate change using the best available scientific evidence. None of the infrastructure proposed as part of the LLFRS will become redundant and will always be needed as part of a long term integrated flood defence scheme. The LLFRS is a key component of Cork’s long-term climate change adaptation strategy and is flexible to respond to a changing future climate.

As part of the scheme’s design, the tidal barrier option was considered in great depth with a comprehensive pre-feasibility assessment completed which is available on the LLFRS website at www.floodinfo.ie. The consideration of worst-case sea-level rise projections suggests that the earliest a tidal barrier might become necessary or viable is the next century.

The design analysis highlights that quayside defences are both necessary and viable now, and in all possible future scenarios, both to address river flooding and to function as part of an integrated and sustainable tidal defence solution.

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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431. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the person or body responsible for the monitoring of OPW water-level sensors (details supplied). [62089/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) undertakes the provision, operation and maintenance of hydrometric gauges to measure water levels and river flows and to produce hydrometric data and undertake hydrological analysis for Flood Risk Management (FRM) purposes. The OPW currently operates some 450 surface water monitoring stations at rivers, lake and tidal locations nationwide. The data from the OPW Hydrometric Network is available publicly on waterlevel.ie/. The OPW does not have an emergency management role or a role in monitoring river water level gauges/sensors in realtime for the purposes of issuing flood alerts or warnings.

The Government has approved the development of a National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service (NFFWS) and as part of Stage 1 (which is completed) of the development of that service, a Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) was established in Met Éireann. Stage 1 of the service focused on developing fluvial (river) and coastal flood forecasts and alerts at a National or Catchment level. Stage 2 of the service, which is under development, will focus on local flood forecasting and warning for communities.

The FFC is providing flood forecasts, river and coastal flood advisory services, hydrological observations and issuing daily flood guidance statements. These products, and briefings where appropriate, are delivered by the FFC to the Principal Response Agencies, comprising the local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the HSE, who are responsible for preparations for and the response to major emergencies and other state stakeholders. Data from the OPW hydrometric network is made available to the FFC to inform their work. Flood forecasting products and data is made available to emergency management bodies through the FFC’s Irish Flood Integrated Communication System (IFICS). The FFC’s flood forecasting information, is tailored for these stakeholders providing valuable information regarding the likelihood of river and/or coastal flooding. This information can be utilised by these stakeholders to manage flood risk and make decisions pertaining to emergency response measures.

The development of the NFFWS is progressing under the auspices of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning (GTF). The GTF has mandated the Office of Emergency Planning of the Department of Defence to chair a Subgroup to develop the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service. The aim of the Subgroup is to deliver Stage 2 of the NFFWS, which will encompass providing local flood warning services for communities in Ireland.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) undertakes the provision, operation and maintenance of hydrometric gauges to measure water levels and river flows and to produce hydrometric data and undertake hydrological analysis for Flood Risk Management (FRM) purposes. The OPW currently operates some 450 surface water monitoring stations at rivers, lake and tidal locations nationwide. The data from the OPW Hydrometric Network is available publicly on waterlevel.ie/. The OPW does not have an emergency management role or a role in monitoring river water level gauges/sensors in realtime for the purposes of issuing flood alerts or warnings.

The Government has approved the development of a National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service (NFFWS) and as part of Stage 1 (which is completed) of the development of that service, a Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) was established in Met Éireann. Stage 1 of the service focused on developing fluvial (river) and coastal flood forecasts and alerts at a National or Catchment level. Stage 2 of the service, which is under development, will focus on local flood forecasting and warning for communities.

The FFC is providing flood forecasts, river and coastal flood advisory services, hydrological observations and issuing daily flood guidance statements. These products, and briefings where appropriate, are delivered by the FFC to the Principal Response Agencies, comprising the local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the HSE, who are responsible for preparations for and the response to major emergencies and other state stakeholders. Data from the OPW hydrometric network is made available to the FFC to inform their work. Flood forecasting products and data is made available to emergency management bodies through the FFC’s Irish Flood Integrated Communication System (IFICS). The FFC’s flood forecasting information, is tailored for these stakeholders providing valuable information regarding the likelihood of river and/or coastal flooding. This information can be utilised by these stakeholders to manage flood risk and make decisions pertaining to emergency response measures.

The development of the NFFWS is progressing under the auspices of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning (GTF). The GTF has mandated the Office of Emergency Planning of the Department of Defence to chair a Subgroup to develop the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service. The aim of the Subgroup is to deliver Stage 2 of the NFFWS, which will encompass providing local flood warning services for communities in Ireland.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) undertakes the provision, operation and maintenance of hydrometric gauges to measure water levels and river flows and to produce hydrometric data and undertake hydrological analysis for Flood Risk Management (FRM) purposes. The OPW currently operates some 450 surface water monitoring stations at rivers, lake and tidal locations nationwide. The data from the OPW Hydrometric Network is available publicly on waterlevel.ie/. The OPW does not have an emergency management role or a role in monitoring river water level gauges/sensors in realtime for the purposes of issuing flood alerts or warnings.

The Government has approved the development of a National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service (NFFWS) and as part of Stage 1 (which is completed) of the development of that service, a Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) was established in Met Éireann. Stage 1 of the service focused on developing fluvial (river) and coastal flood forecasts and alerts at a National or Catchment level. Stage 2 of the service, which is under development, will focus on local flood forecasting and warning for communities.

The FFC is providing flood forecasts, river and coastal flood advisory services, hydrological observations and issuing daily flood guidance statements. These products, and briefings where appropriate, are delivered by the FFC to the Principal Response Agencies, comprising the local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the HSE, who are responsible for preparations for and the response to major emergencies and other state stakeholders. Data from the OPW hydrometric network is made available to the FFC to inform their work. Flood forecasting products and data is made available to emergency management bodies through the FFC’s Irish Flood Integrated Communication System (IFICS). The FFC’s flood forecasting information, is tailored for these stakeholders providing valuable information regarding the likelihood of river and/or coastal flooding. This information can be utilised by these stakeholders to manage flood risk and make decisions pertaining to emergency response measures.

The development of the NFFWS is progressing under the auspices of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning (GTF). The GTF has mandated the Office of Emergency Planning of the Department of Defence to chair a Subgroup to develop the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service. The aim of the Subgroup is to deliver Stage 2 of the NFFWS, which will encompass providing local flood warning services for communities in Ireland.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) undertakes the provision, operation and maintenance of hydrometric gauges to measure water levels and river flows and to produce hydrometric data and undertake hydrological analysis for Flood Risk Management (FRM) purposes. The OPW currently operates some 450 surface water monitoring stations at rivers, lake and tidal locations nationwide. The data from the OPW Hydrometric Network is available publicly on waterlevel.ie/. The OPW does not have an emergency management role or a role in monitoring river water level gauges/sensors in realtime for the purposes of issuing flood alerts or warnings.

The Government has approved the development of a National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service (NFFWS) and as part of Stage 1 (which is completed) of the development of that service, a Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) was established in Met Éireann. Stage 1 of the service focused on developing fluvial (river) and coastal flood forecasts and alerts at a National or Catchment level. Stage 2 of the service, which is under development, will focus on local flood forecasting and warning for communities.

The FFC is providing flood forecasts, river and coastal flood advisory services, hydrological observations and issuing daily flood guidance statements. These products, and briefings where appropriate, are delivered by the FFC to the Principal Response Agencies, comprising the local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the HSE, who are responsible for preparations for and the response to major emergencies and other state stakeholders. Data from the OPW hydrometric network is made available to the FFC to inform their work. Flood forecasting products and data is made available to emergency management bodies through the FFC’s Irish Flood Integrated Communication System (IFICS). The FFC’s flood forecasting information, is tailored for these stakeholders providing valuable information regarding the likelihood of river and/or coastal flooding. This information can be utilised by these stakeholders to manage flood risk and make decisions pertaining to emergency response measures.

The development of the NFFWS is progressing under the auspices of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning (GTF). The GTF has mandated the Office of Emergency Planning of the Department of Defence to chair a Subgroup to develop the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service. The aim of the Subgroup is to deliver Stage 2 of the NFFWS, which will encompass providing local flood warning services for communities in Ireland.