James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is considering increased funding for flood relief projects in tranche 2 of the OPW flood relief works to include the areas of Rathcormack, Mogeely and Castlemartyr; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29501/24]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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59. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to report on the progress made regarding flood defences in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29429/24]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I ask the Minister what progress has been made with respect to flood defences in east Cork. It is almost nine months now since we saw the utterly devastating impact Storm Babet had on Midleton and the surrounding area. People and businesses are still reeling after it. The Minister of State visited east Cork recently. I thank him for that and for the personal interest he has shown, but what the people I represent want to know now is what is next. When will we see the planning permission lodged and when will we see progress?

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 59 together.

I know of Deputy Stanton's absolute commitment to this issue and his long-standing representation in Midleton. I was down there in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for local government and, more recently, in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. I visited Midleton and I am aware of the devastation that flooding has caused to people and businesses in east Cork.

Cork County Council is leading the delivery of the Midleton flood relief scheme and in 2017 appointed engineering and environmental consultants. Midleton has proven to be one of the most complex schemes, with flood risks from four sources: fluvial, tidal, groundwater and pluvial. In fact, it is very unusual to have all aspects in a flood relief scheme. The preferred option is now identified and, following Storm Babet, an assessment is being completed in order that we can be confident that we have designed a scheme that can meet the standard of protection required by the insurance industry.

The next step is to seek planning consent and work is ongoing on the development of the planning design for the scheme.

Interim flood defence measures are under way in a phased manner and, in compliance with the regulatory frameworks, Cork County Council recently submitted an application for funding to the OPW to support the phased roll-out of individual property protection for those properties in Midleton impacted by flooding during Storm Babet. This application is currently under active review by the OPW. An assessment of potential advance works for Midleton is also progressing. This may allow the delivery of certain elements of the main scheme in specific areas in advance of the delivery of the whole scheme, subject to consideration of the flood risk they may cause elsewhere.

As the Deputy will be well aware, when I was in Midleton, we went through the process. In addition to the protection measures under the overall main scheme and the interim measures, I was adamant that we look at undertaking advance works ahead of the main scheme that could have a major impact in a shorter time period than the substantive main scheme and that would complement and assist that scheme.

While the OPW has trebled the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction stages, due to the specialised engineering resource required and skills constraints, it is not possible to commence all flood relief schemes at this time. This includes schemes in east Cork for Castlemartyr, Rathcormac and Youghal. Pending the completion of these schemes, for which funding is committed through the €1.3 billion for flood relief measures under the national development plan, Cork County Council can apply to OPW for additional mitigation measures under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme. This is a demand-driven scheme and, while funding under this scheme has already been approved for the council in respect of mitigation measures for east Cork communities since its introduction in 2009, further applications for Castlemartyr and Killeagh have been received post Storm Babet and these are under active review against the scheme’s criteria. These reviews are nearing completion with decisions on funding to issue to the council shortly. The OPW understands that the council has assessed a number of possible interim flood relief measures at Mogeely and will appoint consultant engineers in the coming weeks to complete a detailed assessment that includes the impact on surrounding lands.

Along with the Deputy and officials from Cork County Council and the OPW, I visited all of the various locations in Midleton. We visited Castlemartyr, Mogeely and Killeagh. I have seen all of these areas on the ground. In many cases, matters are complicated. Some of these issues can be dealt with under the minor works scheme. We obviously need a major scheme for Midleton, which will extend out. However, we need advance schemes and interim schemes as well.

I do not know if I have time to answer the Deputy's other question. Perhaps I will come back to it. I wanted to deal with the timing aspect but I will allow him to come back in and then deal with that question in my response.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his commitment to this and for visiting the area on more than one occasion and for spending quite a bit of time there. I am sure he will join me in my frustration at the lack of progress. It is not his fault at all. With respect to Mogeely, the council is going to appoint a number of consulting engineers in the coming weeks. It has been almost nine months since we had the flood. Will the Minister of State be a bit more specific as to when this is going to happen? Are we talking about months more? I have records of floods in Midleton going back to 1993. Floods occurred in 1993, 1995, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2012 and 2013. There were major floods in 2015 and 2016 and another following Storm Babet in 2023. According to the Minister of State's response, Cork County Council and the OPW appointed engineers and environmental consultants in 2017. That is seven years ago and we still do not know when an application for planning permission is going to be lodged. When does he expect an application for the major scheme in Midleton to be lodged? Is there any way that we can do something for Mogeely, Castlemartyr, Rathcormac and Killeagh in the meantime? Given the very substantial time that has passed, are we now talking about senior officials being sacked or moved on because they are not doing their jobs? That is where I am at this stage.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. I appreciate his utter frustration. In my role as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, my main purpose in visiting Midleton recently was to get a full picture as to where the schemes were at. The OPW is actively engaging with Cork County Council on progressing the substantive main scheme. The only timeframe that is within the control of the council is the timeframe for submitting a planning application for the most efficient route to deliver the scheme as quickly as possible. Once that is submitted, it has no control over timelines. We are looking at an application for planning consent to be lodged by mid-2026. That is why I am so adamant about the advance works. We are looking at that permission being granted by mid-2027. Provided there are no judicial challenges, the scheme is expected to be completed in 2030.

I will break it down. The Deputy made reference to Mogeely. When I was there, I wanted additional interim protection measures to the back of the estate. I wanted consulting engineers to be appointed to do that critical work. I looked for that on the day. We also met residents in Castlemartyr. I want to see works being done there under the minor works scheme. We also looked at Killeagh. When in Midleton, we met the consultants who had been appointed to the main scheme. I want to see advance works done because, at the end of the day, many of those advance works will make an enormous difference in protecting homes, businesses and farms and they can be done much more quickly than the main scheme. They will effectively be a forward element of that main scheme. That is something I am adamant about progressing.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his personal commitment to this. If the tide was in and if it had happened at night, we would have been hauling coffins down the road a few days later. People would have drowned in Midleton because it was that serious, it happened that fast and the water was that deep. It made headlines all over the world because it was so devastating. The Minister of State told me that consultants were appointed to start on planning and design in 2017. He has now told me that a planning application might be lodged in mid-2026.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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There were elements-----

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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That is nine years later. Why does it take so long to deal with so important and devastating an issue in this country? It will have taken nine years for people to get their act together and put a plan in place. The planning application has to be lodged but we do not know how long it will take for a decision on that application to be finalised. There may also be objections. The Government really needs to get its act together on this because we are talking about life and death. Devastation occurred, homes were destroyed and businesses were wrecked and it is going to happen again and again. We are talking about a rise in the sea level as well. I do not want to see my area and my town devastated. If it happens again, homes and businesses will be abandoned. People will not go back. When people hear it raining at night, they stay awake. We really need action on this. People across the board really need to get their finger out. The Minister of State is doing his best and I support him 100% in what he is doing but people really need to move on this. It has been going on for too long and it is very important.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Has it taken longer than one would have liked? Yes. I have been in this role for a short period. Storm Babet was certainly a factor. Anything being put forward had to be proofed against such a storm. Once again, I will note that the main scheme will take a number of years to complete. We therefore must look at what must be done now to protect people's homes in Midleton, Castlemartyr, Mogeely and Killeagh. That might be interim measures, individual protection measures, action under the minor works scheme or advance works. When I was with the Deputy and we met with the officials and consultants from Cork County Council and our own OPW officials, the one thing I demanded was that traction be gained on advance works. I have seen the devastation in Midleton and have met people there. Nothing can be compared to people having their homes flooded. It is the worst experience bar none. I am committed to working collaboratively with the Deputy, with our own people in the OPW and with Cork County Council to expedite all of these measures as quickly as possible. From our more recent visit, I believe there is enhanced urgency in what is happening.