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

I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this. I know she was unavailable on the day I was in Galway. I saw first-hand, when I visited Galway city recently following the flooding caused by Storm Debi, the devastation and impact flooding has on homes, businesses, people and entire communities.

The Government has assessed the flood risk for those communities most at risk from significant flood events. The catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme, Ireland’s largest study of flood risk, was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. An output of the CFRAM programme, the Government’s flood risk management plan, provides the evidence for a proactive approach for designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities.

As the Deputy is aware, the process of redefining the scope for the Coirib go Cósta the Galway city flood relief scheme, which is at stage 1, has taken longer than first envisaged due to the complexity and increase in scale of the scheme. The process has been carried out in consultation with the project steering group by the appointed engineering and environmental consultants who are progressing the scheme.

A draft revised scope reflecting additional works for the scheme has been presented to Galway City Council. This revised scope has been reviewed by the Coirib go Cósta steering group members and agreement has been reached. In parallel, the consultants have submitted a revised programme incorporating the additional scope and this programme is currently being reviewed by the Coirib go Cósta steering group members. Galway City Council has advised that, subject to a contract variation, it expects that the revised programme should be available by mid-December 2023. During my recent visit to Galway city, I requested that a meeting be held between Galway City Council and local representatives to update them on the scheme's progress. I understand that is to happen shortly.

Investment in this scheme is through the €1.3 billion for flood relief under the national development plan to 2030. This has allowed the OPW to treble the number of flood relief schemes nationally at design and planning stages to some 100. Since 2009, OPW has approved funding under the minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme of over €1.1 million to Galway City Council for projects, including a number of projects in the city to carry out channel maintenance on the open channel section of the stream and replacement of a trash screen. I can finish the reply shortly.

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