35. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the status of flood defences in Waterford, in particular in the badly affected areas of Tallow and Passage East. [74873/26]

Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme

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.

In May this year, I was pleased to announce that the revised criteria for the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme are available and greatly increase the scope of the Scheme. The revised scheme 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.

Since 2009, the OPW has approved some €2.2 million in funding under the Scheme to Waterford City and County Council for some 30 projects. Of this, some €105,000 relates to projects in Passage East and some €117,500 for projects in Tallow.

Further details of approved Minor Works projects are available at: www.floodinfo.ie.[]

Storm Chandra Interim Works

Earlier this year Storm Chandra affected many communities, along the east and south east coast, including Waterford. I saw first hand the devastation this flooding caused to properties, people and businesses, when I visited many of the impacted communities, including those in Waterford.

In April this year, I announced the approval of €6.6 million to eight local authorities to introduce interim flood protection measures in response to flooding from Storm Chandra earlier this year. This once-off funding was an informed response to Storm Chandra, and can be used for the implementation of those interim measures identified by each Local Authority in response to that event. Under the scheme, €141,525 was approved for Waterford City and County Council to introduce interim flood protection measures. Of this, €69,525 was allocated to cover the costs of surveying the some 100 properties in Tallow and Passage East for the most appropriate Individual Property Protection (IPP) measures to be deployed. In making this allocation, the OPW set out some core principles that must be adhered to when local authorities are considering deploying IPP, including a community based approach and that weather advisories are accessible to those property owners.

The Council has advised that they have completed the IPP surveys and have applied for funding of €212,800 and €182,400 respectively for the provision and installation of IPP to properties in Passage East and Tallow. To complete its assessment of these applications, the OPW has sought additional information from the Council to support these applications.

Funding to Remove River Conveyance Blockages

In May this year, I also announced that I had allocated €3 million on a once off basis 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. The funding amount allocated for Waterford City and County Council under the scheme was some €70,000 which represents up to 90% contribution by the OPW to the overall funding amount required for the removal of river conveyance restrictions that have been identified by the Council.