Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
307. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if additional funding will be provided for small scale and large, drainage scheme projects in 2026 given the value of smaller scale flood mitigation works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11571/26]
View answerHistorically, flood risk management focused on the arterial drainage of river catchments to improve agricultural land. Maintenance of Arterial and Drainage District channels, designated under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Local Authorities respectively. In 1995, due to increased urban flooding, the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 was amended to facilitate the OPW’s implementation of localised flood relief schemes to provide flood protection to cities, towns and villages.
Through the Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme (CFRAM), the largest study of flood risk was completed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two thirds of the population against the risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. The Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans, an output of CFRAM, provided the evidence for a proactive approach to designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities. Investment of €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan to 2030, has allowed the OPW to treble the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning, or construction to some 100 schemes.
The OPW has a statutory duty to maintain Arterial Drainage Schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts of 1945 and 1995, as amended, in proper repair and effective condition, and conducts its ongoing programme of maintenance in-line with environmental best practice. Arterial drainage maintenance is an ongoing programme of works of a cyclical nature. Arterial drainage schemes result in improved drainage outfall and a level of flood protection for 242,800 hectares of agricultural land, in excess of 20,000 properties, 77 towns and villages and 2,400km of roads. The OPW has allocated €23,511,000 in funding to conduct its maintenance programme for these schemes for the 2026 period. The total funding amount is reviewed by the OPW on a yearly basis and adjusted as necessary, through engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
The OPW has no plans for further catchment-wide arterial drainage schemes. However, to target the management of flood risk outside of cities, towns and villages, in 2009 the OPW introduced the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. The purpose of this Scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake 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 shortly.
