Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
376. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide funds to facilitate the dredging and cleaning of the Bunnoe and Finn rivers arising from ongoing flooding concerns impacting landowners and road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62936/25]
View answer377. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to correspondence received from Monaghan County Council, the funding available for the dredging and cleaning of the rivers Bunnoe and Finn due to ongoing flooding concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62938/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together.
The Bunnoe and Finn rivers do not form a part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme which falls under the statutory remit of the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The OPW therefore, has no responsibility for the maintenance of these channels, nor has it any authority to carry out any works there.
Localised flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Monaghan County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources. The Council may apply to the OPW for funding for flood mitigation works under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis 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 and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.
The criteria for the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme are currently under review, and any application under the scheme will be considered against revised criteria. The OPW expect to advise Local Authorities of the revised criteria for the Scheme in the coming weeks.
