Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
77. 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; his proposals for 2027, taking into account the value of smaller scale flood mitigation works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40455/26]
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 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 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. The OPW 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 been allocated €23,511,000 in funding to conduct its maintenance programme for these schemes for 2026. 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.
Local authorities are responsible for the management of flood risk in their administrative areas. 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.
On Monday 25th May, I was pleased to announce that the details of the revised criteria for the Scheme are now available and greatly increase the scope of the Scheme to provide local authorities with a greater opportunity to address localised flood and coastal erosion risk within their administrative areas. The revisions include an increase in the upper threshold in funding for projects from €750,000 to €2m, and an increase in the OPW contribution from 90% to 95% for approved funding above €300,000. I also announced that I have allocated a once-off amount of €3 million in funding to local authorities towards the removal of river conveyance blockages within their administrative areas. The details are available on the OPW website www.opw.ie .
The improvements to the Minor Works Scheme, in addition to the €3 million in funding, will support the essential work undertaken by Local Authorities to address localised flooding problems.
