Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
277. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the flood relief measures his Department has put in place for a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13583/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has a statutory duty to maintain Arterial Drainage Schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995 as amended. The area referenced in your correspondence does not form part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The OPW therefore, has no responsibility for the maintenance of this location, nor has it any authority to carry out any works there.
The OPW has procured a consultant to develop new flood maps for the Mayne River to reflect the current hydraulic conditions in the Belmayne, Balgriffin, and Clongriffin areas. These and are due to be published later this year.
Localised flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Fingal County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources. The Council may apply to the OPW for funding for flood mitigation works under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This scheme was introduced by the OPW on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor 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. Since 2009, the OPW has approved funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of circa €2.6 million to Fingal for some 10 projects.
