940. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the position regarding CFRAM in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59412/26]

To establish those communities that are at risk from significant flood events, the OPW completed the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State in 2018. The OPW Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme was undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW, working in partnership with the local authorities. The CFRAM Programme studied 80% of Ireland’s primary flood risk and identified solutions that can protect over 95% of that risk.

The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk.

In 2019, the Bellurgan Flood Relief Scheme was completed and is protecting 35 properties from significant flood risk.

The Office of Public Works, (OPW), is funding 6.5 staff in Louth County Council who lead the delivery of five flood relief schemes at Dundalk/Blackrock South, Drogheda, Carlingford/ Greenore, Baltray and Ardee.  The Government has committed funding to support the delivery of these flood relief schemes under the National Development Plan.

The Dundalk/Blackrock South scheme is to protect 1,880 properties. Engineering and Environmental Consultants were appointed in 2020.  The emerging options for Blackrock were presented to the public in March 2026 and the emerging options for Dundalk were presented to the public in April 2026.  The preferred options for the scheme are expected later in the year with planning consent submission in 2028.  The OPW understands that Louth County Council has been working closely and constructively with Uisce Éireann on their plans and studies to ensure alignment across planning, environmental, and flood risk priorities.

The combined Drogheda and Baltray Scheme is to protect 425 properties. Engineering and environmental consultants were appointed in 2021.  Emerging Options will be presented to the public in Q3 2026 and the preferred option is expected in Q4 2026, with planning consent submission in 2027.

The OPW approved €339,480 for a viable option to protect 30 properties in Ardee.  The option, identified by Louth County Council, is to be complete at the end of this year.

Louth County Council and the OPW are reviewing requirements for a brief to procure engineering and environmental consultants for the Carlingford and Greenore Scheme. In the interim the Council is assessing areas where works could improve the conveyance characteristics.   The OPW approved €27,685 in April 2025 for improved conveyance works at Brown’s Lane/Newry Street that are now complete. Further funding of €924,636 was approved by OPW in March 2026 for an upgrade to the Carlingford Watercourse Culvert and the works are being progressed by Louth County Council.

Following Storm Chandra in January of this year, I met with the Chief Executive of Louth County Council to discuss interim measures that could be introduced to provide protection to those areas that were badly impacted by flooding during the Storm. Funding of some €698,000 was recently approved to Louth County Council to introduce these interim flood protection measures. This funding will be used by the Council to provide works at various locations across the county and will include measures aimed at protecting homes and businesses ahead of next winter.

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 2009, funding of some €1.9 million has been approved for Louth County Council under this Scheme for 26 projects.

On 25th May 2026, I was pleased to announce that details of the revised criteria for the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme are available, and greatly increase the scope of the Scheme to 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. Further revisions include the relaxing of some economic criteria which lowers the required threshold for viable solutions.

I also announced details of once-off funding of €50,000 to Louth County Council to remove river conveyance blockages in County Louth.

The Scheme Viability Reviews (SVRs) identified potentially viable Flood Relief Schemes for Annagassan and Termonfeckin. They will be included in the second tranche of schemes for further detailed assessment.  Under the national programme, work has yet to commence on the design of the Tranche 2 flood relief schemes.  A number of initiatives are underway, including the OPW piloting a new delivery model for flood relief schemes through four Tranche 2 schemes in counties Kilkenny and Donegal, which is referred to as the Tranche 2 Pilot. The Tranche 2 Pilot is transferring the management of data gathering, as a first step in designing a scheme, from consultant engineers for a single scheme to the local authorities for all schemes in the Pilot. The Pilot means that data gathering, where feasible, may be scaled up from individual communities to all schemes in a county.

The Pilot will better inform the prioritisation of future schemes nationally and the scope of services required from consultants to design and facilitate construction of flood relief schemes. While it is anticipated that work to progress the Tranche 2 schemes will commence within the lifetime of the National Development Plan, the implementation of these schemes will continue post-2030.  In the interim, Annagassan and Termonfeckin will continue to be designated as Areas of Potential Significant Flood Risk.

The OPW has ongoing engagement with Louth County Council in relation to flood risk at Annagassan and Termonfeckin, and other communities and the optimal means of implementing flood relief measures for these areas.