Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important matter for debate. Major floods have taken place in Ennis through the years. Townspeople will recall serious floods in 1989, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2004 and late 2009. I welcome the fact that phase one of the Ennis flood relief scheme has stood up to the challenges posed by extreme weather events over the past couple of years. I look forward to the completion, in the next couple of months, of phase two of the scheme from Bank Place to Doora Bridge. Without the successful implementation of a flood relief plan in Ennis, there is little doubt further serious flood events would have taken place, with disastrous outcomes for local residents and business owners. Therefore, I welcome the serious flood alleviation work which has taken place in Ennis over recent years.

The matter I raise today is the third and last substantial element of flood alleviation works required for Ennis. The project is known as the lower Ennis flood relief scheme or the St. Flannan's and Ballybeg flood relief scheme. Few will forget the scene of flood waters pouring over the boundary wall at St. Flannan's College in late November 2009 in floods which were said to have been the worst in 800 years. Householders in housing estates off the Clare Road, on Clonroadmore and Tobartaiscain had their houses invaded by flood water, with devastating consequences. I thank God we have not had a similar weather event since. However, we need to prepare for such an event by providing this vital flood alleviation scheme.

The lower Ennis flood relief scheme involves the construction of a flood overflow culvert from St. Flannan's stream to the Clare Abbey flood plain, with associated overflow structure. It also involves the provision of a second flood overflow culvert from Ballybeg to the Clare Abbey flood plain, together with upgrading of the existing flood defence embankments between the Quin Road and the Clarecastle tidal barrage, including rehabilitation and construction of sluices and upgrading of the existing back drainage system. The St. Flannan’s and Ballybeg streams continue to pose serious flooding issues for householders in both Ennis and Clarecastle. Each winter, these streams are overwhelmed with water and at times of heavy rainfall, flooding is caused to houses and public roads. Much credit is owed to the outdoor staff of Clare County Council who battle against the elements with pumps to keep houses and roads free of water. However, this is an unsustainable solution. A permanent solution is required, namely, the provision of the lower Ennis flood relief scheme. It is essential that work commences on this important scheme in the coming months. People have waited patiently since 2009 for this problem to be finally tackled.

While much work has taken place on reports, planning and cost-benefit analysis by engineers in both the OPW and Clare County Council, people continue to ask me when work will start on the scheme. I have raised it many times with previous Ministers and I welcome the opportunity to ask the Minister of State when contractors will be appointed, when work will start on this long-anticipated scheme and how long the construction period is expected to be. Could the Minister also indicate how many construction jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Carey for raising this important matter and for giving me the opportunity to address the House and update the Deputy and the people of Ennis about it. During November 2009, following an exceptionally prolonged and intense wet spell, Saint Flannan's College in Ennis, County Clare, and built-up areas in its environs, experienced severe flooding from Flannan's stream. This flooding, which was reported to have been the worst in living memory, forced the college to close for several days in addition to flooding or cutting off access to a number of homes in nearby estates. Furthermore, important town access roads in the area were impassable and an electricity supply substation at the college was switched off as a precaution due to the high flood levels.

It was agreed that Clare County Council would commission consultants with a view to bringing forward proposals to address the problem in this area, with funding from my office, the Office of Public Works. The project, which is referred to by the council as Ennis south flood relief scheme, will complement the Ennis upper scheme, which was completed some years ago, and the Ennis lower flood relief scheme, which was completed this year. Clare County Council engaged Hydor Environmental Ltd. to produce a feasibility report on St. Flannan's Stream with a view to implementing a flood alleviation scheme. Following from this report, the preferred option consists of very substantial upgrading of approximately 2 km of embankments and the construction of two culverts approximately 1.4 km in length, together with a pump station and associated works.

All flood relief schemes that are funded by the OPW must meet certain criteria, including acceptability on cost-benefit grounds. The OPW and Clare County Council engaged in discussions over some months regarding aspects of the cost-benefit analysis of the scheme completed by the council's consultants. Arising from these discussions, the OPW has recently notified the council that it is now satisfied that the scheme is economically justifiable and has advised the council of its agreement that the project should proceed. I know that will come as great relief to Deputy Carey and others in Ennis.

Clare County Council is at present conducting a tender competition to appoint contractors to carry out the works. It is expected that a tenderer will be selected in the coming weeks, and the council hopes to be in a position to award the contract in late January or early February 2015. The council expects that works will then commence in late February or early March 2015. I am pleased to be able to provide that definitive timeline to the Deputy.

I want to assure the Deputy that I and the OPW are fully committed to supporting Clare County Council in implementing the scheme for Ennis south in the shortest possible timeframe. I can further confirm that the OPW has made provision for the scheme in its multi-annual budget profiles to 2017. Funding for this scheme is in place, and I hope and expect that Clare County Council will now appoint a tenderer as quickly as possible and that construction will commence in February or March 2015 to provide much-needed assurance, relief and confidence to the people of Ennis.

Regarding the number of construction jobs, I will ask my office to revert to the Deputy on that.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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It is very welcome news that this scheme will finally get off the ground. It is welcome also that contractors will be appointed in late January, with construction to commence in February or March. This is a much-needed scheme, the need for which I have outlined. I compliment the engineers in Clare County Council and the OPW on the work they have done to date. I compliment also the outdoor staff of Clare County Council for their work in the interim in keeping houses and public roads free of water.

This scheme is vital. I look forward to its moving to construction early in February or March. I hope that timeline is adhered to and that construction will commence on those dates. I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply and this positive news.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted to be able to provide Deputy Carey with this information and good news for Ennis. It is an issue he has been pursuing for some time with me and my predecessors.

It might be useful to inform the Deputy and the House that Clare County Council has estimated that the all-in cost of the scheme, inclusive of all professional fees and other costs, will be in the region of €3.6 million. As I have already outlined, it is expected that the scheme will commence in either February or March of 2015. The next significant date in terms of timelines is the appointment of a contractor, which I hope will happen very soon.

It is also worth noting the other floor relief projects that have been undertaken in the Ennis area. The Ennis lower flood relief scheme works were substantially completed in September of this year; there is a bit of routine snagging going on. The estimated outturn for that scheme is approximately €11.2 million. We also have the Ennis Fior Uisce scheme, the contract for which Clare County Council expects will be awarded in early January, with works commencing in early February. The works will consist of embankments and flood walls, along with a surface water pump station and associated works to the surface water and sceptre pipes.

Regarding Thomond Villas, Clare County Council is currently carrying out preparatory investigations with a view to submitting an application under the minor flood works and coastal protection scheme. That scheme is very useful to councils, because local authorities can apply to my office for funding of up to €500,000 to carry out minor flood relief works - minor in terms of cost but major in terms of the impact on people in communities across Ireland. That is something Clare County Council is considering with regard to Thomond Villas, and should we receive an application, we will endeavour to process that as efficiently as possible.

I look forward to the commencement of the Ennis south scheme in 2015 and to being there with Deputy Carey when the scheme is completed.