Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am delighted to be back as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. The Deputy has previously raised the issues at Annagassan and Termonfeckin.

The CFRAM programme was the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State and covered 300 areas believed to be at significant flood risk. The programme culminated with the launch on 3 May 2018 of 29 flood risk management plans which proposed 118 different projects. A small number of additional schemes were found to be technically feasible but not economically viable at the time, with a benefit-cost ratio of less than one, based on the strategic level of assessment of the CFRAM studies. To better inform a decision on progressing schemes in these communities, measures were included in the flood risk management plans to undertake a review of the schemes' viability, called the scheme viability review, SVR. The OPW has put in place a process for undertaking these SVRs to determine whether a potential scheme should be taken forward to the full flood project stage. It should be noted it is neither the purpose nor the objective of the SVR to develop and design a scheme in preparation for planning. That is a separate process.

Annagassan and Termonfeckin were two such areas that fell into this category and a review of the flood risk in these communities and the likely associated costs and benefits is currently being undertaken. I can confirm that the Termonfeckin SVR was commenced by the OPW last year and technical assessment of the area is ongoing. The scheme viability report for this area is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023. Annagassan forms part of a group of SVRs being undertaken by consultants Arup, following a competitive tendering process late last year. The project commencement meeting was held on 9 January 2023 and site visits are scheduled for early February. A scheme viability report for Annagassan is expected by the end of the year. The scheme viability process for these communities involves ongoing liaison with Louth County Council. Once the outcome of the SVRs is known, the OPW will discuss the results with Louth County Council. I would like assure the Deputy and indeed all the Deputies from County Louth that every effort is being made to progress the SVRs in County Louth and indeed across the country in the quickest possible timeframe.

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