32. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the progress of flood relief plans in Kilkenny and Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40270/26]

The Government is investing some €110m in flood relief schemes completed and underway across counties Kilkenny and Carlow.  The €48m flood relief scheme for Kilkenny City is protecting 200 properties. Kilkenny County Council is leading the delivery of four flood relief schemes for Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch, Ballyhale, Piltown, and Freshford in the first tranche of schemes and piloting a new national delivery model.

The €21m Graiguenamanagh-Tinnahinch Flood Relief Scheme commenced in March 2020 and was submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála on the 12th December, 2025 for planning consent.   A total of 84 properties will be protected from the 1% AEP (100 year) fluvial flood event. Subject to planning consent, construction is due to commence at the end of 2027 and it is expected to take two years to complete.

The €2.7m Ballyhale Flood Relief Scheme commenced in April 2020. Planning permission was granted with conditions on the 22nd August, 2024. This scheme will protect 28 properties from the 1% AEP (100 year) fluvial flood event.  The tender for a contractor issued to the market and the tender submission deadline is the end of May with construction to commence later this year.

Piltown and Freshford FRSs

The OPW is currently trialling a new national delivery model for flood relief schemes towards a more efficient means of delivering all 50 schemes in the second tranche of schemes. The pilot includes Kilkenny County Council trialling a new delivery model for Piltown and Freshford. The design of these schemes is at an early stage of data collection to inform the appointment of engineering and environmental consultants.

Carlow

The €9.5m Carlow Flood Relief Scheme is completed and provides protection for 185 properties. The OPW and Carlow County Council are currently in discussion to progress the development of a further flood relief scheme for Carlow to augment the existing scheme to protect a further 35 properties.  A Scheme Climate Change Adaptation Plan (SCCAP) is being developed for the existing Carlow Flood Relief Scheme. This will ensure that the scheme is readily adaptable to future requirements. This work is expected to be completed before the end of 2027.

Storm Chandra on 27th January 2026 and in the days immediately after, caused flooding to many towns, businesses and homes, particularly along the East and South East coast of Ireland. I saw first-hand the devastation that this event caused when I visited the locations, including in counties Carlow and Kilkenny impacted by this flood event.

During those visits, I asked those local authorities that were impacted to set out those interim measures that could be introduced over the coming months and that can significantly reduce the impact to those communities impacted by Strom Chandra from a future equivalent flood event.

At the end of May I allocated €484,000 and €1.135m respectively to Carlow and Kilkenny County Councils to introduce interim measures that can reduce the impact of similar future flood events to those affected communities.