28. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the timeline when his Department will publish the terms and conditions for the expanded minor works scheme following his announcement in August 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40793/26]

Localised flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and a Local Authority may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources. Local Authorities may apply to the OPW for funding for flood mitigation and coastal protection works under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Since its introduction in 2009, some €70 million has been approved under the Scheme for 930 local authority led projects that are delivering flood mitigation and coastal protection for some 8,000 properties.

On Monday of this week, 25th May 2026, I was pleased to announce that details of the revised criteria for the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme are available, and greatly increase the scope of the Scheme to provide local authorities with a greater opportunity to address localised flood and coastal erosion risks 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. Further revisions include the relaxing of some economic criteria which lowers the required threshold for viable solutions.

I have taken the lessons learned from Strom Chandra, and other storms, and expanded the Scheme to include interim flood mitigation measures for communities where a major flood relief scheme is planned, but not complete. I am confident that by availing of this scheme, and introducing interim measures, local authorities will be able to reduce the impact of any significant flood event on the local community until full protection is provided by the completed scheme. The revisions to the Scheme will also better support local authorities in dealing with coastal erosion problems that are impacting local communities.

The full details of the revised scheme are available on the OPW website www.opw.ie .