187. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the tidal barrier for Cork city; and the funding provided for same in each of the past five years. [54090/26]

The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme - Ireland’s largest study of flood risk, was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two-thirds of the population against their risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. An output of the CFRAM Programme, the Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans provide the evidence for a proactive approach for designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities. The delivery of these Plans is supported by €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan. To date, 57 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection 13,640 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion.

The Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme (LLFRS) is the largest flood relief scheme in the state. It encompasses an area from Inniscarra Hydroelectric plant to the Port of Cork, some 16 kilometres away. The LLFRS is expected to provide protection against the 100-year fluvial flooding event from the River Lee and the 200-year tidal flooding event for 2,100 properties, 900 residential and 1,200 commercial, at an estimated cost of over €200 million.

The LLFRS is the result of over a decade of study utilising cutting edge technology to review the most recent data and science, alongside local community needs, and the current and future climate context which adopts a multifaceted approach and is the only viable solution to Cork’s flooding problem.

The LLFRS has carefully considered climate change using the best available scientific evidence. None of the infrastructure proposed as part of the LLFRS will become redundant and will always be needed as part of a long term integrated flood defence scheme. The LLFRS is a key component of Cork’s long-term climate change adaptation strategy and is flexible to respond to a changing future climate.

As part of the scheme’s design, the tidal barrier option was considered in great depth with a comprehensive pre-feasibility assessment report completed, which is available on the LLFRS website at www.floodinfo.ie/frs/en/lower-lee/home/ . An update of this report is currently being progressed and is at an advanced stage. The consideration of worst-case sea-level rise projections suggests that the earliest a tidal barrier might become necessary or viable is the next century. As a result of the consideration and analysis of a tidal barrier option and considering the outcome that this option is not necessary now there has been no funding sought or provided to date.

The design analysis highlights that quayside defences are both necessary and viable now, and in all possible future scenarios, both to address river flooding and to function as part of an integrated and sustainable tidal defence solution.