921. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to introduce a scheme with immediate effect to keep the arches of bridges clear of debris (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60461/26]

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is not responsible for maintaining the complete network of bridges throughout Ireland, which is within the remit of a number of agencies such as the relevant local authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail), in addition to bridges that are in private ownership.

The OPW maintains 19,000 bridges that form part of Arterial Drainage Schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, as amended. This maintenance is an ongoing programme of works of a cyclical nature.

In May this year, I announced the OPW allocation of €3 million in funding to support local authorities to remove blockages that are a source of restriction to river conveyance and are causing an increase in flood risk to properties. This once-off allocation can be used to fund the immediate removal of blockages from locations such as river crossings, bridges or culverts and that are causing a restriction to rivers which pose an immediate risk to flooding of properties. Each local authority is responsible for undertaking the works to remove the river conveyance blockages, which must not cause flood risk elsewhere. The allocation must be used in accordance with the purpose of the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme (Minor Works Scheme) to mitigate fluvial and coastal flooding. Further information is available at: [www.gov.ie].

I also announced that details of the revised criteria for the Minor Works Scheme are available, and greatly increased the scope of the Scheme to provide local authorities with a greater opportunity to address localised flooding 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 €2 million 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. Details of the Scheme are available at: [www.floodinfo.ie/minor-works/].