61. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will provide funding for urgently required flood protection works at Rossbeigh and Cromane in Kerry. [74528/26]

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 Office of Public Works (OPW) for funding for flood mitigation and coastal protection works under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme (Minor Works 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.

In May this year, I was pleased to announce that the revised criteria for the Minor Works Scheme are available and greatly increase the scope of the Scheme and provides local authorities with a greater opportunity to address localised flooding and coastal erosion risk 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. I have also expanded the Scheme to include interim flood mitigation measures for communities where a major flood relief scheme is planned, but not complete. Further revisions include the relaxing of some economic criteria.

Cromane

In February 2012, Kerry County Council (KCC) submitted application to the Minor Works Scheme for proposed works at Cromane. Funding of €100,000 was approved under the Scheme for the Council to conduct embankment strengthening works, with the works being completed in December of that year.

Following the completion of the Dingle Bay - Castlemaine Harbour Study, which studied coastal erosion and flood risk in the area, the Council submitted a further application to the Scheme in June 2026, for €1.3m in funding to conduct a study and proposed works for Cromane. The Council have identified that the primary flood risk in this location is from coastal flooding with a significant risk of flooding during extreme storm surges. The Council are proposing to conduct a study with associated works, which includes the repair of circa 750m of embankment, the maintenance of a further 1.3km of embankment, new flood gates and the re-profiling of a local road.

Rossbeigh

Funding of €450,000 was approved to KCC in March 2018 for works in Rossbeigh under the Minor Works Scheme for construction of a rock revetment.

KCC also submitted a minor works application for Rossbeigh, where funding of €2m is sought for a Study and subsequent works. These works incorporate the repair of circa 650 to 750 metres of rock armour revetment. The study will further assess changes to beach levels, the dune system and the current protection afforded by the existing rock armour revetment, as well as estimating future changes due to the dynamic environment where Rossbeigh Spit is located.

The OPW subsequently met with the Council, on 9 July, to discuss both applications and requested that further information be provided. The OPW will continue with its assessment of these applications upon receipt of the requested information. Since 2009, the OPW has approved some €4.2m million in funding for some 40 projects to Kerry County Council under the Scheme.