40. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will outline the latest update on the Midleton flood relief scheme; if it is the intention to go for planning in Q4 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51522/26]

Cork County Council with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW), for nine staff for flood projects across the county, is leading the delivery of the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme. Of these, four staff work exclusively on the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme.

Funding for this scheme is part of the Government’s commitment for the delivery of flood relief measures over the lifetime of the National Development Plan.

The Midleton Flood Relief Scheme is currently estimated to be submitted by Cork County Council to An Coimisiún Pleanála under the Planning and Development Acts in Q3 2026 and be substantially complete by 2031, protecting up to 750 properties – that flooded during Storm Babet.

Cork County Council is engaging with those landowners, whose lands are required for the scheme. Work is also ongoing on environmental surveys and assessments, which are required to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

Cork County Council has completed a number of interim flood defence works in Midleton following Storm Babet in October 2023.

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. The proposed works include approximately 350m of Flood Defence embankment with associated surface water drainage and landscaping. The estimated date for completion of works subject to successful planning consent is early 2028.

Cork County Council is rolling out the €5.8m Individual Property Protection (IPP) Scheme across Midleton and East Cork for 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 50% of the properties have IPP fully complete and 76% 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.