50. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the progress made to date in the implementation of the individual property protection scheme across east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51261/26]

In October 2024, the OPW approved €5.8m for Cork County Council to make Individual Property Protection (IPP) available free of charge to an estimated 923 home and business owners who were so badly impacted by the October 2023 flood event during Storm Babet in Midleton (749) and East Cork (174), including Castlemartyr, Mogeely, Killeagh, Rathcormac and Youghal.

The scheme opened for applications on 7th October 2024 to all households and businesses in the affected areas. Applications for the scheme were accepted until 18th November 2024. Cork County Council received a total of 967 applications. Overall there were 715 valid applications – that includes 45 retrospective applicants who have been fully reimbursed. Cork County Council arranged for an independent assessment by engineering consultants of the suitability of the properties for IPP and the type of IPP products required (e.g. flood gates, vent blocks, etc.). All eligible properties have been surveyed, and delivery of barriers is ongoing.

This IPP scheme 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.

Cork County Council and OPW are continuing to use all avenues to deliver the scheme as quickly and efficiently as possible.

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