39. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the status of the flood schemes outside of Midleton that are being funded by his Department; and the works that must be completed following the recent funding awarded to the Castlemartyr-Mogeely scheme and the works for the schemes at Rathcormac, Killeagh, Whitegate, Youghal. [74914/26]

43. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to report on the progression of flood prevention measures in Castlemartyr, Midleton, Mogeely, Killeagh, Rathcormac and Whitegate in County Cork. [74722/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 43 together.

To date, the Office of Public Works has completed 57 flood relief schemes nationwide to protect 13,640 homes and businesses and to provide an economic benefit in damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2bn.

Across County Cork, nine flood relief schemes have been completed to protect 1,750 homes and businesses against the risk of flooding.

There are a further ten flood relief schemes underway, with the main works element of the Glashaboy flood relief scheme completed. Currently, Cork City Council, supported by the Project Team and the OPW, are working through the snag list with the Contractor, as per normal practice, and this work shall continue for a number of months. Cork City Council advise that other ancillary works will continue during this period and into 2027.

It is anticipated that an application for planning consent in respect of the Midleton flood relief scheme will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála by the end of 2026. Upon completion, the scheme will protect up to 750 properties. Cork County Council has carried out significant engagement with the landowners in Midleton, whose lands  are required for the scheme.

Cork County Council has completed a number of interim flood defence works in Midleton following Storm Babet in October 2023. Advance works at Tir Cluain, representing an investment of €5.8m, are estimated to commence in early 2027 to protect 135 properties. Ground investigations in the coming weeks will further inform the works programme.

Cork County Council is rolling out the €5.8m Individual Property Protection (IPP) Scheme across Midleton and East Cork to over 700 properties affected by Storm Babet. This forms part of the Council’s emergency response plans for these areas. The scheme necessitates some 2,000 flood barriers, and a significant number of these require civil works to facilitate installation. It is anticipated that all works will be completed in November 2026.

Aside from the schemes at Midleton and Glashaboy, the current status of the remaining Tranche 1 flood relief schemes in County Cork is as follows:

I recently announced, as part of an overall €14m allocation to Midleton and East Cork, the allocation of an additional €1.077m in funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Erosion Scheme for studies and works to introduce interim and flood mitigation measures in Mogeely, Castlemartyr, Rathcormac and Ballintubber. This funding is in addition to the €1.35m previously allocated under this scheme across East Cork, including Killeagh, Youghal and Whitegate.

Since its introduction in 2009, the OPW has approved some 60 projects and some €8.5m in funding to County Cork under the scheme. This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to addressing and mitigating the flood risk in this region, including measures following the Storm Babet event. The responsibility for the delivery of projects funded under the scheme, including obtaining all required consents, is a matter for the local authority to progress. The OPW, as the Approving Authority, supports Cork County Council in flood mitigation measures and studies carried out through the scheme.

The optimal means of progressing future Tranche 2 flood relief schemes, in County Cork and elsewhere, is being explored by the piloting of a new delivery model and a review of the procurement strategy for delivering flood relief schemes. These initiatives will better inform the prioritisation of future schemes nationally, including those in the East Cork communities of Castlemartyr (incl. Mogeely), Rathcormac and Youghal.