Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will again give some brief background on the planning environment relating to this. This scheme was submitted for confirmation by the OPW in August 2018 under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945.

In early 2021, the scheme received ministerial confirmation under section 7 of the regulations. It was then subject to judicial review, during which a stay was also granted on works being carried out pending the resolution of these proceedings. In early 2022 and acting on legal advice, my Department conceded the matter on a single ground related to public consultation procedures as part of the confirmation process and consented to an order reverting the evaluation of the Blackpool flood relief scheme to an earlier phase of the project. A request for supplementary information was subsequently made to the Office of Public Works under section 7B(4) of the regulations, to which the OPW complied by supplying information in October 2022. Following an examination of all material provided to date, the environmental consultants retained by my Department recommended that a further supplementary information request be made to the OPW. This request was made in November 2023 and the OPW is now progressing this accordingly. Once the information has been received, a further period of public consultation will be held.

Regarding the Glashaboy flood relief scheme for Glanmire, the Office of Public Works, in consultation with Cork City Council, is engaging proactively to progress the scheme. The scheme received ministerial consent in January 2021, is funded from the national development plan to 2030 and will provide flood relief and protection to some 100 properties. In April 2023, Cork City Council, following a successful tender competition, awarded the project to Sorensen Civil Engineering. I can provide the Deputy with a further update on that scheme in a moment, if he so wishes.

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In July 2023, Sorensen Civil Engineering mobilised on site and carried out site investigation works, working with utility providers to agree diversions and engaging with stakeholders. The contractor continues to progress the flood protection works in a number of different locations throughout the scheme area. The construction programme is anticipated to take 32 months, with the works split up into several zones to minimise disruption to the public and businesses. A steering group with representatives from Cork city and county councils, the consultant engineers and the OPW meets monthly to review the progress in and performance of the delivery of this scheme. The schedule for the next three months of work is available on a dedicated web page on the project website, which has been set up to provide updates to the public throughout the works.

Following the significant flooding that occurred during Storm Babet, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy O'Donovan, visited the area and met the local authority to discuss the impact from the storm event and progressing the construction of the scheme. The project team is currently considering all interventions or mitigations that may be beneficial to mitigate flooding until the scheme is complete. After Storm Babet, members of the project team met the Copper Valley Vue residents association and discussed proposals for temporary works prior to construction of the permanent flood relief scheme works. At the end of 2023, interim mitigation measures were installed to help protect homes on Copper Valley Vue until the flood defence scheme was fully completed in the area. These measures include a raised ramp at the entrance to Copper Valley Vue and temporary flood defence barriers within the estate. These interim works were completed by Sorensen Civil Engineering in December 2023.

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