24. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide an update on the flood projects in the east Cork area; the expected timeline for completion of the same projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40794/26]

Across Cork, nine flood relief schemes are completed. The Office of Public Works, (OPW), is currently providing funding to Cork County Council for nine staff to deliver all 15 additional flood relief schemes across the county, that are all funded by the Government’s commitment to support the delivery of flood relief schemes under the National Development Plan. Six of these are Tranche 1 schemes, and are underway at this time, including Midleton.

The Midleton Flood Relief Scheme is estimated to be submitted by Cork County Council to An Coimisiún Pleanála in Q3 2026 and be substantially complete by 2031, protecting up to 750 properties – that flooded during Storm Babet. A Part 8 planning application for advance works at Tir Cluain, to protect 135 of these properties, was granted consent in January 2026 and Cork County Council plan to appoint a contractor later this year. A further Part 8 planning application is currently being progressed for permanent advance works on Park South, Midleton to protect 14 properties in the Oakwood and Beechwood Estates.

Castlemartyr (to include Mogeely), Rathcormac, and Youghal are not in the first Tranche of schemes being designed at this time. The specialised nature of engineering required means having trebled the number of schemes at design and construction, to some 100, Ireland is constrained by availability of specialised resources to commence any additional schemes.

Cork County Council is rolling out the €5.8m Individual Property Protection (IPP) Scheme across Midleton and East Cork to some 725 homes and businesses affected by Storm Babet in October 2023. This forms part of the Council’s emergency response plans for these areas. The scheme requires some 2,000 flood barriers, and a significant number of these need civil works to have them installed. Cork County Council has advised that 44% of the properties have IPP fully complete and 70% of the total flood gates required have been delivered, with substantial completion anticipated to be in September 2026.

A quarterly update by Cork County Council on the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme and the Individual Property Protection scheme was presented at the Midleton Flood Committee meeting on 23rd April 2026, and the next update is scheduled for 16th July 2026.

Since 2009, under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, the OPW has approved some €7.4 million funding to Cork County for some 57 projects.

On Monday of this week, 25th May 2026, I announced that details of the revised criteria for the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme are available. 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. Further revisions include the relaxing of some economic criteria which lowers the required threshold for viable solutions.

I also announced details of once-off funding of €200,000 to Cork County Council to remove river conveyance blockages in County Cork.