Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a position (details supplied) will be filled; if filling the position will delay the progress of flood relief in East Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68406/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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In 2018, to establish those communities that are at risk from significant flood events, the Office of Public Works (OPW) completed the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State: the Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. The CFRAM Programme studied 80% of Ireland’s primary flood risk and identified solutions that can protect over 95% of that risk. Some 150 new and additional flood relief schemes were identified through this Programme.

The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of these flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk.

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, planning or construction at this time to some 100 schemes. While the OPW strives to expedite and progress capital flood relief works with minimum delay, major flood relief schemes involve complex civil engineering and construction works that can impact on people's living, built and natural environment and, therefore, require lengthy planning and decision lead-in times. The OPW is piloting a new delivery model in County Donegal and County Kilkenny, which will inform the approach to delivering future Tranche 2 schemes nationally.

Since 2009, the OPW has provided funding through the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to local authorities. Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within the local authority's administrative area. The scheme applies where a flood defence solution may be readily identified and achieved within a short timeframe. The commencement and progression of any study or works for which funding is approved is administered by each local authority.

The OPW has ongoing engagement with Cork County Council to discuss the optimal means for progressing flood relief measures in their administrative area. To date, the OPW has approved funding of some €7.3m for over 55 projects in County Cork under the Minor Works Scheme. This funding includes the following approved projects for Castlemartyr, Killeagh, Mogeely, and Rathcormac:

Cork County Council is in the process of appointing a Consultant to undertake a detailed programme of surveys (including topographic, hydrographic, bathymetric, ground water, environmental and ecological surveys) to inform the hydrological and hydraulic modelling of the catchment upstream of Mogeely. This work will be important in supporting the identification of potential flood mitigation measures for the area. A tender process has to be undertaken in accordance with public procurement guidelines. The drafting of a detailed brief and tender documents is currently ongoing and nearing completion. Advertisement of the tender is anticipated to occur by the end of this year.