To ask the Minister for Infrastructure (i) for an update on the progress of flood alleviation schemes that are currently underway; and (ii) how these schemes are being prioritised.

My Department’s Rivers Directorate currently has over 50 separate potential flood alleviation schemes on its forward looking Capital Works Programme (CWP), with approximately half of these already in progress at various different stages.

Details of these schemes are available on my Department’s website at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/32cb28e2dc744243bd2d2c48e7245008.

In terms of prioritising flood alleviation schemes, the benefits, in terms of “flood damage avoidance”, must outweigh the actual costs of constructing and maintaining the works for it to be considered an economically viable scheme which can be taken forward.

Cost viable schemes are scored and prioritised before being placed on the Capital Works Programme (CWP). The scoring mechanism broadly assesses the existing degree of flood protection, scheme economics, special considerations, and financial control.