As the Senator knows, I am very familiar with flood and coastal erosion risks across Donegal, having visited the county in February this year. Coastal erosion and localised flooding issues are matters in the first instance for each local authority to investigate and address. Each local authority may carry out flood mitigation and coastal erosion works using its own resources or it may apply to the OPW for funding under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme.
Since its introduction in 2009, some €70 million has been approved under the scheme. Of this, the OPW has approved €2.4 million in funding to Donegal County Council for 45 projects. In May 2026, I announced the revised criteria for the minor works scheme. The revisions include an increase in the upper threshold in funding for projects from €750,000 to €2 million and an increase in the OPW contribution from 90% to 95% for approved funding above €300,000.
The Government recognises the risks associated with climate change and that increases in sea levels and storm surges will result in increased frequency of 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. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage holds the lead co-ordination role and is responsible for chairing an interdepartmental steering group on coastal change management. 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.
I saw first hand the coastal erosion risks at Inver earlier this year when I met the local community on site. To date, the OPW has approved €112,500 for four projects in Inver to manage the erosion risk. Donegal County Council has proposed works to the existing sea wall at Inver that include the construction of a row of rock armour along a line of existing gabions to provide protection from further damage. Today, I am approving a further €12,668 in additional funding sought this week by Donegal County Council to enable the delivery of these important works. This brings the total amount of OPW funding for this project to €62,668.
The OPW’s catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme identified Killybegs as a community that required a flood relief scheme. Under the national programme, work is under way on some 100 flood relief schemes identified through the flood risk management plans. As is common in many areas, sourcing the specialised engineering skills needed for these projects is challenging. As such, it is not feasible to deliver all the flood relief schemes concurrently and the programme has been subdivided into two tranches, focusing initially on the first tranche of flood relief schemes.
The revision to the OPW minor works scheme that I announced in May allows local authorities to introduce interim measures in communities like Killybegs, pending the completion of a scheme for the town. When I met with the council and the local community in February, I asked the council to bring forward proposals for interim measures. The council is working on advanced measures to deliver flood protection, particularly for the Bridge Street area, in the aftermath of the flooding that occurred in November 2024. Costings are currently being developed that, if acceptable, will enable the progression of a design to mitigate the flood risk to Bridge Street. I have asked my officials to engage with the local authority on these proposed solutions.
