Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

In the first instance, local flooding is a matter for each local authority to investigate and address. Where necessary, local authorities may put forward proposals to relevant central government Departments, including the Office of Public Works, for funding of appropriate measures depending on the infrastructure or assets under threat.

As there is no application on hand in the OPW for the location mentioned in the Deputy's question, my office contacted Cork County Council and it has advised that the area around Ardcahan Bridge has a history of flooding, whereby the R587 frequently becomes impassable to road traffic. To alleviate flooding at the bridge, the council's Dunmanway area office approached the regional and local road design office to examine the possibility of removing silt around Ardcahan Bridge as part of bridge works. Consulting engineers were appointed to progress the project in 2019. To date, the detailed design of the repair works to the bridge are substantially complete and include: structural bridge investigations; the production of a preliminary design report; extensive 2D hydrological modelling has been carried out; and environmental surveys have been completed, which have fed into the draft Natura impact statement.

The consultants are aiming to have the Natura impact statement completed by the first quarter of 2023. Works will follow once statutory approvals are in place. Cork County Council will liaise with the Department of Transport under its annual bridge rehabilitation programme, in the first instance to fund these works. I will bring this matter to the attention of the Minister for Transport.

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