Which question is this?
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I do not have the reply. I understood that it had been changed. I do not have it.
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I will. I will come back to the Deputy. I am sorry about that.
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I congratulate the Deputy. In the past, I had a great working relationship with his predecessor, so I look forward to working with him in the future. To date, six communities across Cork county are protected from significant flood risk by completed flood relief schemes. Through the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme, the largest study of flood risk was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. It is not possible to progress all 150 flood relief schemes identified by the 2018 flood risk management plans simultaneously, due to the limited availability of the required professional and specialised engineering skills. However, the Government is committed to funding these projects through the €1.3 billion available under the national development plan. Since 2018, and working with local authorities, the OPW has trebled, to 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction. The flood risk management plans identified 15 additional flood relief schemes for Cork county. Under the national delivery model, Cork County Council is leading the delivery of six flood relief schemes with nine planned in the next phase, including Rathcormac and Castlemartyr. The OPW is funding nine engineering staff in the council to support its delivery of this programme of schemes. The OPW is piloting a new delivery model to inform the most efficient delivery to be applied for the future 50 tranche 2 schemes nationally, including Rathcormac. The OPW understands that the council progressed interim flood mitigation measures for Rathcormac, which were funded under local climate adaptation and resilience grants. These works included the installation of a flood embankment, the upgrade of storm infrastructure, drainage channel clearing and works to roads to improve drainage. Cork County Council can introduce localised flood mitigation measures in Rathcormac with 90% funding from the OPW's minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme ahead of a flood relief scheme commencing. Under the minor works scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000. Rathcormac is included in the Midleton and east Cork individual property protection scheme, which is a Cork County Council scheme with €5.8 million funding from the OPW. Under this scheme, property owners who experienced flooding during Storm Babet in October 2023 may be eligible to apply for receipt of individual property protection measures. Property surveys are currently ongoing, with floodgate delivery to suitable properties commencing in the coming weeks.
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I set out the details regarding Rathcormac. There is availability through the minor works scheme for the local authority to come to my Department to seek funding under that scheme, while we wait for the bigger scheme. We are looking at a pilot scheme for tranche 2, which Rathcormac comes under, but the pilot scheme is not yet finished. I understand it is a year from completion. The minor works scheme is the Deputy's best option at this time to try to help the people at Rathcormac with future flooding resistance. I will visit the area. I know the Deputy has sought that in recent weeks. I will let him know when the visit is happening. I will call and see the people myself.
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In the first instance, it is the responsibility of each local authority to investigate and address local coastal protection. The minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection schemes were introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of the schemes is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood or coastal erosion mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. Applications for funding from local authorities for measures or studies costing up to €750,000 can be made under this scheme. Funding of up to 90% of the total cost is available, subject to meeting specific economic, technical, social and environmental criteria. The Government recognises the risks associated with climate change and that increases in sea levels and storm surges will result in more frequent coastal erosion. In response to these challenges, the recommendations outlined in the report of the interdepartmental group on national coastal change management strategy are being implemented. Among the key recommendations of the report is the assignment of the lead co-ordination role to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which is responsible for chairing an interdepartmental steering group on coastal change. The OPW has been designated by the Government as the national lead co-ordinating body for the assessment of coastal change hazards and risks and the assessment of technical options and constraints. These assessments will build upon indicative assessment work previously undertaken by the OPW under the Irish coastal protection strategy study, and comprise a substantial, multi-annual programme of works to assess coastal risk nationally, and then in detail at higher risk locations as a basis for then determining potential viable works to manage this risk. This work will contribute to the work of the interdepartmental steering group on coastal change. The OPW has commenced work programmes and projects to deliver on recommendations from the national coastal change management strategy report to develop the understanding of how our coast is evolving, identify areas prone to erosion, survey the coastline and coastal defences and assess coastal change hazards and risks.
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I did not get to finish my response earlier. I assure the Deputy that we are considering natural methods of protection. We talk about fluvial flooding but coastal erosion is becoming a huge problem. I have seen it in the past, including when I served here with responsibility for the OPW, and I expect it in the future. It will be a major problem. All people, not only those in the OPW but also all Members of the House, need to work together, because the problem has a frightening effect on families right along the coast. Based on what the Deputy has put forward, I assure him that works are being done to ensure we take all measures to protect the coast, particularly the communities involved.
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I have to apologise to the Deputy. I am new in the game and have not got the response to the question with me. However, I will send it on to the Deputy.
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Nationally, 55 flood relief schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 13,500 properties and an economic benefit to the State, with damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. In 2018, to facilitate the development of a programme of works, the OPW completed a strategic study called the national catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme. The CFRAM programme resulted in the publication of 29 flood risk management plans which provide the roadmap for the Government’s €1.3 billion investment in flood relief measures over the lifetime of the national development plan to 2030. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning and construction to some 100. The CFRAM programme did not propose structural flood risk management options to Tallow as it was considered to have a low level of flood risk. The OPW is aware that in October 2023 a flood event occurred in Tallow during Storm Babet. The OPW is reviewing the level of flood risk in Tallow as part of its national review of preliminary flood risk assessments, as required under the EU floods directive. Officials from my Department have previously liaised with Waterford City and County Council regarding recent flooding events in Tallow and OPW engineers will meet Waterford City and County Council over the coming weeks to discuss the flooding at Tallow and measures available to the council to manage that risk.
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The local authority can apply for funding under the OPW’s minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme to address flooding experienced in Tallow. The purpose of this scheme is to provide 90% funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies costing up to €750,000 to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. I advise the Deputy to speak to the local authority first as the minor works scheme is available. It is very much driven by the local authorities. It is something I, in taking up this role, will be driving on that bit further because the local authorities can do more. There is no question that the money is available to support them. I am not going to tell the Deputy today that I will visit Tallow as I have many places to visit. I will be here for five years, however, although I hope we will deal with the problems quicker than that for him.
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As I said, the OPW will provide assistance to the local authority but the latter needs to drive the scheme and push it on. The money and the minor works scheme are in place. All the local authority has to do is put forward its proposals through the scheme. My engineers and staff are meeting local authorities in the Deputy's area and we will see what comes out of that.
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