2025-12-11

5. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the plan to advance flood defences for Crookstown, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71225/25]

When it floods in Crookstown, it floods people's homes and businesses and it blocks off the R585, a key artery in and out of west Cork, the Bantry line. It becomes impassable and the centre of the village quickly becomes flooded. What plans are in place for flood defence works in the village of Crookstown?

I thank the Deputy. I understand the River Bride overtops its banks upstream and downstream of Crookstown bridge. Flow paths through properties cause flooding to some 23 properties and on local and regional roads. The road drainage is unable to discharge to the river during flood events. The 2014 Lee catchment flood risk assessment and management programme studied the flood risk at Crookstown and did not identify a viable major scheme to manage that risk. It recommended localised flood mitigation measures be progressed through the Office of Public Works' minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme. This scheme does not extend to mitigating flooding to the road network. Cork County Council, with OPW funding for nine staff to support the delivery of its programme of flood relief schemes, is leading the Crookstown flood relief scheme. The minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short timeframe. The criteria for the scheme are under review, following the announcement I made on increasing the funding threshold that is to be made available under the scheme. The OPW expects to advise local authorities of the revised criteria shortly. Funding under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme of €295,000 was allocated to Cork County Council in 2021 for minor embankment and improvement works, construction of flood defences, a storm water pumping station, new drainage pipes and associated works at Crookstown. In its approval, the OPW highlighted these works are a significant interim measure to mitigate flood damage in advance of further works. While the county council has not drawn down the funding, it has engaged with consultants to design options for further works. While an option has been identified, the council is engaging with funding partners, including the Department of Transport, for these further works.

There is no quick and easy solution in Crookstown, given the way the flooding occurs. A big aspect of it is the junction at Clifford's and the way that gets inundated and flooded. I understand plans are being advanced with the council on a sump and pumping out. It has been conducting some of that work. It is looking around at a checkerboard of funding options, including climate change adaptation and resilience works as well as its own funding. It impedes any kind of a job being done when it is spending more time hunting down funding streams. For example, when it is waiting to do flood works, it also delays resurfacing on the road and that has occurred for a number of years as well. Could there be one clear path where the council could have the autonomy to get on with any one channel and be able to get on with the work itself?

As I outlined, my Department has fully supported the local authority. I identified and read out the amount of money that was given. It is working with the Department of Transport in trying to deliver further for the local authorities. We have made changes to the minor works scheme. We will work with the local authorities to see where and when we can help. We have always been open in relation to Crookstown and the area. We understand quite clearly the level of pressure the Deputy is under but particularly the residents every time we have rain. It affects everybody. We need to work together and the Deputy has to reach out to the Department of Transport at this time because of where the problem is in relation to the road. There is talk of putting in a sump and that needs to be fast-tracked but where the Office of Public Works, OPW, can help, we will help as regards the minor works scheme.

I thank the Minister of State. First, I acknowledge the co-operation and the back-and-forth with regard to the work that has been done there. We saw it further up the Lee recently, with funding made available in Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh. I acknowledge that and thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge also the co-operation that has been going on in Crookstown. There is definitely no quick or easy answer in Crookstown and if it means engaging with the Department of Transport, I am pretty sure the council will be doing that. Will it need additional resources to take on that responsibility and work in that situation, or will it be able to do it with its existing manpower?

We have given it all the resources it required in terms of staff not just for this area but all the areas. The Deputy is quite correct and I thank him for mentioning what we have done so far in the different areas he came to me about in respect of funding. We have made that available but in this particular one, it depends on the Department of Transport. There is no point in saying it does not. It is either that or it is the local authority's own funding. As I said, we have made changes to the minor works scheme and we will work closely with the local authorities as we have but they have to come back to us to seek funding. If we can offer that support, if it falls within the threshold, then, yes, we will support them. I would say to the Deputy that, ideally, he needs to reach out to the Department of Transport working with the local authority to try to drive on this scheme that bit further. It is going on quite a long time but OPW has been to the front and centre of making money available to it. If it comes in looking for further support, once it comes under the criteria, we will gladly support that.