Construction BUSINESS

The Irish Government has announced that planning for the €55m Midleton Flood Relief Scheme will be submitted by 2026 as interim scheme rolled out.

Kieran O’Donnell T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), has announced €5.8m in funding from the OPW to Cork County Council for the installation of Individual Property Protection measures to some 920 homeowners and businesses impacted by the October 2023, flood event during Storm Babet, across Midleton and East Cork.

This announcement is part of a suite of flood relief announcements, including progressing the Planning Consent Route for the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme by Cork County Council through An Bord Pleanála and the funding of staffing resources for Cork County Council to deliver these measures.

Minister O’Donnell said: “I have seen at first hand the devastation caused by Storm Babet and met with the impacted homeowners and businesses in Midleton and across East Cork. Since my appointment in April, I have together with my officials met and worked with the Chief Executive and senior management team of Cork County Council to identify the most efficient way of delivering the flood relief scheme for Midleton and until completed, the interim measures to reduce the risk and impact of flooding for Midleton and East Cork.”

The Minister added that “the Individual Property Protection scheme is being made available to those who were so badly impacted by Storm Babet in Midleton and East Cork and will provide reassurance, until the flood relief schemes are completed, by mitigating flood risk in these communities. The Office of Public Works is making funding available to Cork County Council to ensure IPP is available and accessible at no cost to homeowners and businesses”.

Cork County Council is progressing a number of other interim flood mitigation and defence works for Midleton and East Cork which are designed to reduce the impact of flooding in advance of the main schemes for these communities.

The Minister recently announced the approval of €155k in funding from the OPW to Cork County Council to progress specific minor works designed to mitigate flood risk in both Castlemartyr and Killeagh. A further application for funding for flood mitigation works in Mogeely is expected to be submitted by Cork County Council to the OPW later this year.

Cork County Council in partnership with the OPW is delivering the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme that will seek to protect up to 750 properties and has an estimated budget of €55.8m. The Climate Adaptation Plan that forms part of the scheme’s design means that the scheme can be adapted over the coming decades to continue to provide the same level of protection against a higher flood risk from climate change.

Minister O’Donnell said, “work started in early 2024 on the planning documentation and through constructive engagement and review between the Office of Public Works and Cork County Council, a decision has been agreed to progress planning consent for the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme by Cork County Council under the Planning and Development Act to An Bord Pleanála.”

The decision on the preferred planning route has considered the overall timeframe with delivering the scheme and associated risks for each possible consent route. The estimated timescale for submission of planning for the overall flood relief scheme is by early 2026, with the scheme completed in 2030. The Steering Group, overseeing the Scheme’s delivery, is continuing to explore the possibility of advance works, so that protection for parts of Midleton may be achieved earlier.

The Minister further announced funding from the OPW to Cork County Council for additional staffing resources to enable the assignment of a dedicated team to the Midleton Flood Relief Scheme.

Minister O’Donnell concluded that, “I and my officials will continue to work with Cork County Council in advancing these important flood relief projects for the people of Midleton and East Cork.”

Delivery of all flood relief measures is funded by the Government’s €1.3bn for flood relief measures under the National Development Plan.

The Midleton and East Cork Individual Property Protection Scheme opened for applications this week.  It will provide measures such as flood gates to mitigate the risk associated with the entry of flood waters through doors or other openings.

Eligible properties will be inspected by an independent engineer who will assess if the property is suitable for Individual Property Protection (IPP) measures.  The scheme will be open for applications for one month from the launch date, until noon on Monday the 11th of November 2024.

There will be two delivery models for people whose properties flooded during Storm Babet.  The main delivery model will be a local authority delivered model with Cork County Council  (CCC) managing the sourcing and installation of the flood mitigation measures.  This model will require no outlay from the property owner.  Property owners who have already bought and installed appropriate IPP measures since Storm Babet can avail of a grant scheme where they will be reimbursed, subject to the scheme terms and conditions.

The Main Scheme will involve CCC sourcing and providing IPP to eligible Applicants whose properties, following assessment are deemed suitable to receive IPP.

The scheme also includes an avenue for property owners who have undertaken builders’ works and/or sourced and purchased IPP independently since Storm Babet and prior to the roll out of the CCC/OPW IPP Scheme. This scheme is only open to applicants who have proof of builders’ works costs and/or purchase of suitable IPP between 18/10/23 and 7/10/24, which following assessment is deemed a suitable flood mitigation measure.

Under the Main IPP Scheme Property owners/occupiers (residential and businesses) who wish to be considered for the scheme apply through the Online Portal providing details of the property. Property owners must at this stage sign up for the terms and conditions of the IPP Scheme. Where an applicant is deemed eligible for the scheme, CCC will arrange for an engineer to visit the property and undertake an independent review of the suitability of the property.

Where a property is deemed suitable to receive IPP by the independent engineer, the Applicant is advised of the IPP proposed and an outline of any builders’ work/ accommodation works required to make the opening suitable.

CCC will then source the specified IPP and where necessary a Contractor to undertake any builders’ works/ accommodation works required. The final stage of the process is the delivery of the IPP to the property.

Under the Retrospective IPP Scheme Where an applicant is deemed eligible for the scheme, CCC will arrange for an engineer to visit the property and undertake an independent review of the suitability of any IPP related builders’ work undertaken and/or IPP purchased since Storm Babet to act as a flood mitigation measure. It should be noted that reimbursement will only be considered for works/IPP undertaken/purchased between 18/10/23 and 7/10/24.

For property owners/occupiers deemed eligible for reimbursement for IPP related builders’ work and/or the purchase of IPP, payment will be arranged through bank transfer up to a maximum of €3,900 inclusive of VAT for residential properties. In the case of Business Applicants, where the IPP cost exceeded this amount, the limit on reimbursement will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Meanwhile, immediate acceleration of the Bantry flood relief scheme must begin now, a Fine Gael General Election Candidate has said, following another devastating flood last weekend.

Cllr Noel O’Donovan said: “Cork County Council, working with the Office of Public Works is continuing to assess solutions for both tidal and river flooding in Bantry. It’s time to put an end to the uncertainty that’s plagued this great west Cork town for years.

“Minister O’Donnell, who visited Bantry this weekend has arranged a meeting this coming Wednesday with Cork County Council, the Office of Public Works, Uisce Éireann, and the consultants on the culvert scheme to explore ways it can be expedited.

“Our local businesses have faced setback after setback, and they need more than just sandbags—they need proper, long-term protection.

“The Minister has also advised me that the Office of Public Works has approved funding to Cork County Council for an individual property protection scheme for business owners and homeowners in Bantry, which the Council will roll out shortly.

“While the main flood relief scheme will take some time, the Minister’s absolute priority is to move the culvert flood relief scheme forward as quickly as possible to bring some relief to the people of Bantry.”