Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
14. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of flood relief schemes commencements since 2020; the total cost of each to date per scheme; the average length of time spent in pre-planning consultation prior to each of these works commencing, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10558/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo establish those communities that are at risk from significant flood events, the OPW completed the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State in 2018. The OPW Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme was undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW, working in partnership with the local authorities. The CFRAM Programme studied 80% of Ireland’s primary flood risk and identified solutions that can protect over 95% of that risk.
A series of 29 Flood Risk Management Plans were launched in May 2018 by the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and An Taoiseach, providing the evidence base for some 150 new and additional flood relief schemes. These plans are available on www.floodinfo.ie.
The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 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.
Flood relief schemes are complex multiannual civil engineering projects. The stages and rigour adopted by the OPW to completing a scheme takes, by its nature, some 11 years to date to bring a scheme through development, planning, design, procurement and construction. This detailed process follows five distinct stages and their indicative average timeframes are as follows:
• Stage 1 – Scheme Development and Preliminary Design (average timeframe: 48 months);
• Stage 2 – Planning Process/Public Exhibition & Confirmation (average timeframe: 24 months);
• Stage 3 – Detailed Design (average timeframe: 12 months);
• Stage 4 – Construction (average timeframe: 36 months); and,
• Stage 5 – Handover of Works (average timeframe: 12 months).
Please note that the above timelines are averages and are indicative only and may vary significantly from project to project.
Nationally, 56 schemes have been completed to date which are providing protection to some 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.
There are currently ten flood relief projects at Stage IV: Implementation/Construction. These projects will protect over 2,800 properties upon completion. There are a further nine projects that were at construction in 2020, or commenced construction since 2020, and have since reached substantial completion. These projects now protect over 3,800 properties. The table provided below details these projects, along with their current status and total expenditure to end of 2025.
Table 1. Flood Relief Projects at Stage IV: Implementation/Construction 2020 – 2026.
|
Scheme |
County |
Status |
Total Expenditure to End of 2025 |
|
Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme |
Westmeath |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
€31.5m |
|
Morell River Flood Management Scheme |
Kildare |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
€18m |
|
Whitechurch Stream Flood Alleviation Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
€7.6m |
|
Glashaboy (Glanmire / Sallybrook) Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
€32.4m |
|
Poddle River Flood Alleviation Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
€8.7m |
|
Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project, Cork |
Cork |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
€12.4m |
|
King's Island Flood Relief Scheme |
Limerick |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
€30.2m |
|
Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme |
Mayo |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
€9.7m |
|
Dublin City (River Wad - Phase 1B) Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
€2.9m |
|
River Mall (Templemore) Flood Relief Scheme |
Tipperary |
Stage IV: Implementation/Construction |
€18.7m |
|
Dodder Phase 2C, 2D, 2E Flood Relief Scheme |
Dublin |
Stage V: Handover of Works |
€21.9m |
|
Bandon Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Stage V: Handover of Works |
€33.5m |
|
Ashbourne Flood Alleviation Scheme |
Meath |
Stage V: Handover of Works |
€11.5m |
|
Ennis (South) Flood Relief Scheme |
Clare |
Stage V: Handover of Works |
€18.9m |
|
Douglas (incl Togher Culvert) Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Stage V: Handover of Works |
€26.4m |
|
Springfield Flood Relief Scheme |
Clare |
Stage V: Handover of Works |
€4.7m |
|
Clonakilty Flood Relief Scheme |
Cork |
Stage V: Handover of Works |
€33.5m |
|
Ennis (Lower) Flood Relief Scheme |
Clare |
Stage V: Handover of Works |
€19.7m |
|
Westport (Cois Abhainn & Ashwood) Flood Relief Scheme |
Mayo |
Stage V: Handover of Works |
€1.7m |
