Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cork is very well represented here with four Deputies in the House. I thank them for their comments. In fairness to them, they have advocated for their constituents since the flooding happened last week. I also thank them for acknowledging that we have had similar situations in Clashmore, Tallow and Kinsalebeg in west Waterford,. I visited houses last Friday. It is devastating to see the damage that has been caused.

To try to answer the questions, in regard to the Glashaboy flood relief scheme, as Deputy O'Sullivan will be aware, the scheme was confirmed in January 2021 by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Plan Delivery and Reform. The scheme, when completed, will provide flood protection to 103 properties, comprising 78 residential and 25 commercial properties. It will address the flood risk in a number of locations in the Glanmire area. The scheme will include defences such as walls and embankments, culvert upgrades, channel widening and road regrading.

In April 2023, Cork City Council, following a successful tender completion, awarded the civil works contract to Sorensen Civil Engineering. In July, it mobilised on site and carried out site investigation works, working with utility providers to agree diversions and engage with stakeholders with works commencing on site at Cuil Chluthair and Springmount. I take on board the points the Deputies made regarding front-loading work in the worst affected areas.

The construction programme is anticipated to take 32 months, with the work split into several zones to minimise disruption to the public and businesses. Following the events of Storm Babet last week, the design team will examine the proposed works through the Glashaboy flood relief scheme to consider whether any short-term or other interventions or mitigations can be beneficially proposed in addition to the approved works.

In east Cork, Cork County Council is now turning its focus to recovery and is beginning the assessment of the wider impact of the floodwaters on rural roads and infrastructure in the hinterland of Midleton and Youghal where local primary and secondary roads have been badly impacted. This will allow a clear picture to develop of the estimated cost of the appropriate works to make the worst affected sections of the road network safe.

In Midleton, the immediate focus will be to evaluate what temporary interim flood defences can be put in place as a bridging measure prior to the implementation of the planned Midleton flood relief scheme structures. The Midleton flood plan will be reviewed following the recent experience and updated to reflect the new risk areas that have been identified. Additional river and water level gauges will be installed and the council will seek to use automated water level threshold alarms to put technology to best effect.

A co-ordination centre was established at Midleton fire station to house the interagency co-ordination team that co-ordinated the local response and evacuation of people trapped by the extreme floodwaters. People displaced by the floodwaters were given shelter at the local hotel and temporary rest centres in Midleton, as Deputies know. Much of Midleton experienced power outages during Storm Babet and ESB crews have restored power to affected areas.

Regarding Midleton Community Hospital, as Deputies know, it was flooded and as a precaution some patients were evacuated to Heather House on St. Mary's campus in Cork city on Wednesday afternoon. The remainder of the main hospital building remained operational on backup generation power until power was restored last Wednesday. A decision was taken to decant the remainder of the hospital patients to Heather House and the National Ambulance Service co-ordinated their transfer. Thankfully, the floodwaters have receded and local authority workers have mobilised to clear debris from affected roads and premises.

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