Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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143. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the OPW has not prepared a national strategy for river drainage and maintenance measures to manage flood risk, and allocate sufficient resources to, and begin, its implementation in conjunction with the local authorities, as recommended in the July 2010 report of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government following the severe floods in winter 2009/2010 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43663/24]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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144. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the OPW has not liaised with the local authorities in the allocation of funding for river drainage and maintenance, as each local authority was recommended in the report to include a separate budget figure for the drainage and maintenance of rivers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43664/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together.

Following on from the severe flooding that occurred in winter 2015/2016, the Government’s flood risk policy was focussed on the development of the national Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme and bringing forward policies and measures, informed by the CFRAM outputs, that could support individuals and communities to respond effectively to flood risks. The output from the CFRAM, the 29 Flood Risk Management Plans which were published by the Government in 2018, set out both structural and non-structural measures to manage the flood risk in the communities at potentially significant flood risk and elsewhere around the country.

The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of the FRMPS and flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities throughout the country, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning and construction to some 100 schemes at this time.

Nationally, 55 schemes have been completed to date which are providing protection to over 13,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. Consequently, work to protect 80% of all at-risk properties nationally is completed or underway and when the programme is completed 95% of the properties assessed to be at risk will be protected. The Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, Individual Property Protection, the Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme, enhanced preparedness and flood forecasting is addressing residual risks. The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group is also considering further feasible proposals for Government to support and assist households and communities through non-structural flood risk management and mitigation measures.

The OPW is responsible for the maintenance of Arterial Drainage Schemes and Flood Relief Schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995 as amended. The maintenance of all drainage schemes carried out under earlier Acts, known as Drainage Districts, is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority.

In general, responsibility for watercourses outside of the remit of local authorities and the OPW is a matter for the landowner(s) concerned who have an important role in ensuring that watercourses are managed and free flowing so that in extreme weather events the risk of flooding can be minimised. A guide to the rights and responsibilities of landowners is available online at: .

Where flood risk relates to communities, the local authority may apply to the OPW for funding of flood mitigation works under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects, with the balance being funded by the local authority concerned. Any application received is considered in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria, which comprise economic, social and environmental criteria including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.