879. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide the current projected timeframe for each flood relief scheme intended to protect settlements in east Cork affected by Storm Babet in October 2023, including the projected dates for completion of design, submission of a required planning application, commencement of construction and completion of works; the current stage of each scheme; and the reasons for any delay or change in the previously projected timeframe. [55895/26]

Through the Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme (CFRAM), the largest study of flood risk was completed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in 2018.  This studied the flood risk for two thirds of the population against the risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. The Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans, an output of CFRAM, provided the evidence for a proactive approach to designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities across the country. Investment of €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan has allowed the OPW, since 2018, to treble the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning, or construction to some 100 schemes.

Across Cork, nine flood relief schemes are completed. The OPW is currently providing funding to Cork County Council for nine staff to deliver all 15 additional flood relief schemes across the county, that are all funded by the Government’s commitment to support the delivery of flood relief schemes under the National Development Plan. Six of these are Tranche 1 schemes, and are underway at this time, including Midleton.

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

Cork County Council is rolling out the €5.8m Individual Property Protection (IPP) Scheme across Midleton and East Cork to some 725 homes and businesses that were 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 58% of the properties have IPP fully complete and 78% of the total flood gates required have been delivered, with substantial completion anticipated to be in September 2026.

Under the national programme, work has yet to commence on three Tranche 2 flood relief schemes in East Cork: Castlemartyr, Rathcormac, and Youghal. The OPW is piloting a new delivery model in Counties Donegal and Kilkenny, which will inform the delivery of future Tranche 2 schemes nationwide. While it is anticipated that work to progress the Tranche 2 national programme will commence within the lifetime of the National Development Plan, implementation will continue post-2030.

A quarterly update by Cork County Council on the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme and the Individual Property Protection scheme and wider East Cork area was presented at the Midleton Flood Committee meeting on 16th July 2026, and the next update is scheduled for 15th October 2026.

The Council have completed a number of interim flood defence works in Midleton since Storm Babet in October 2023, along with interim flood mitigation measures for Rathcormac, Castlemartyr and Killeagh. Relevant surveys and studies are also being supported by the OPW. In January 2026, the OPW approved funding of €107,708 for the procurement of an engineering consultant to conduct surveys and a study, and to recommend measures to mitigate the risk of flooding to properties in Whitegate Village. Cork County Council have advertised for engineering consultancy services for interim flood mitigation measures in respect of Mogeely and Castlemartyr.

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.

Since 2009, the OPW has approved some €7.4 million funding to Cork County Council for some 58 projects. Under the Minor Works Scheme, it is the responsibility of the local authority to advance the works, once approved by the OPW. This includes all environmental assessments, planning consents, health and safety requirements and landowner agreements.

In May this year, I was pleased to announce that details of the revised criteria for the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme are available, which greatly increase the scope of the Scheme and 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. The Scheme supports interim flood mitigation measures for communities where a major flood relief scheme is planned. By introducing interim measures, local authorities will be able to reduce the impact of a significant flood event on the local community until protection is provided by the completed scheme. The full details of the revised Scheme are available on the OPW website www.opw.ie.