Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
58. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if additional funding will be made available for flood relief schemes; if he will consider expediting proposed flood relief schemes for Cork city given they have been ongoing for some time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11081/26]
View answerThe Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of 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, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities throughout the country, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning or construction to some 100 schemes at this time.
Nationally, 56 schemes have been completed to date which are providing protection to over 13,580 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. Consequently, work to protect 80% of all at-risk properties nationally is completed or underway.
The Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme is led by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and represents the largest State investment in flood defence ever undertaken in the country. Some 900 homes and 1200 businesses will be protected when the scheme is constructed.
Statutory Public Exhibition for this scheme is scheduled to take place this year and submission for planning consent is scheduled for next year.
The River Bride (Blackpool) Scheme has been submitted for planning and is awaiting decision from The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. Some 206 homes and 87 businesses will be protected when the scheme is constructed.
Subject to receipt of Confirmation by the Minister for The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the procurement process to appoint a contractor to construct the scheme will commence.
Schemes currently under construction in Cork City include Glashaboy Flood Relief scheme due to be substantially complete in Q2 2026, providing flood protection to 103 properties and Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project due to be substantially complete in Q4 2026 providing protection to 410 properties.
The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide 90% funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding or coastal erosion problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. The OPW expect to advise Local Authorities of the revised criteria and details for the scheme shortly, including an increase in the funding limits for each project from €750,000 to €2m.
Since 2009, OPW has approved funding of circa €7.3 million under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for some 57 projects across Cork County and City.
