'Some 100 schemes' under way to tackle flooding, Dáil told
The Government has restated its commitment to tackling the threat of flooding by investing in "prevention, protection and preparedness".
Speaking during Dáil Statements on Flood Relief, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Kevin 'Boxer' Moran said that the OPW had identified communities at risk by undertaking the largest ever programme of its kind in 2018.
That research concluded that the vast majority of those communities could be protected, if an "ambitious", "robust approach" which "met regulatory requirements" was undertaken.
There are "some 100" schemes under way, with projects either completed or being carried out to protect "80% of at-risk properties".
"To date, the OPW has €570 million in 55 flood relief schemes protecting 13,500 properties with an estimated economic benefit" of €2 billion, the minister said.
Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell acknowledged the significant increase in OPW funding to address this matter, but said that this was never "predominantly a financial issue".
She accepted that flood relief schemes "are complex and multi-annual projects", and do require local input.
However she warned: "It does take far too long to go from the initial stages to completion at the moment."
Labour TD Ged Nash asked why delivering a flood relief scheme, which has five stages, can get stuck on the first stage, citing examples from his constituency in Co Louth.
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said that "rivers need to be cleaned out", and called on the minister to ensure that this happens, but reassured that he was not "having a go" at the minister who he said is "a hard-working man".
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