Dáil debates

Wednesday, 21 April 2021

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

Flood Relief Schemes

8:00 pm

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when flood defence construction works will advance in the upper River Lee area for Inchigeelagh, Ballingeary and Ballyvourney, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20493/21]

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The need for flood defences on the upper River Lee in Ballingeary and Inchigeelagh and the River Sullane in Baile Bhuirne has been well established. It is a real cause of concern for residents in the various villages that in the event of heavy rainfall the water will come up from the river in the dark of night and will flood their homes. There is nothing more frightening. People do not know how much of a threat exists. Plans were being advanced. Could the Minister of State outline the progress that has been made to protect people's homes and property?

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the Ballyvourney and Ballymakeera flood relief scheme is currently at outline design stage and the OPW is working to schedule a public exhibition for the scheme at the end of this year. The Deputy will be aware that the flood risk for this area is complex, as he has raised the matter a couple of times. In my previous role in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, when I responded on behalf of the previous Minister with responsibility for the OPW I had recourse to answer questions asked by Deputy Moynihan so I am familiar with the case. The main sources of flooding along the River Sullane arise when the capacity of the river channel itself is exceeded, along with the three tributaries to the north of the village. The flood risk is also impacted from the storm network that can independently cause flooding through the gullies and overland flow.

As the Ballymakeera study area has the potential for a large number of flood relief options, it is essential that the environmental screening of each option is considered carefully, having regard to sensitive environmental constraints in the area. To date, these environmental considerations have included, among other matters, translocating pearl mussels. Currently, the project team is assessing the potential impact of any proposed flood relief measures on the high water quality status of the respective water body in the area around Baile Mhic Íre and Baile Bhuirne.

The OPW is working to provide proposals this year for public exhibition to inform a scheme that is technically, environmentally and economically able to proceed to detailed design stage and formal confirmation by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. Following this confirmation, construction can commence. In the interim, in 2018 Cork County Council has been approved funding of €187,248 under the OPW's minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme for the provision of temporary flood defence measures, including a sandbag defence structure, two non-return valves at existing drainage outfalls and pumping sumps to allow over-pumping during flood events. In May 2018, 29 flood risk management plans for all the main river basins identified a total of 119 additional flood relief projects to protect the main flood risk areas.

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State is correct: we have discussed this a number of times in an effort to advance the work. The last time the matter was discussed during Question Time it sounded as if the plan for Baile Bhuirne was more advanced, with a view to having an exhibition late last year. At that stage, the construction environmental management plan, as well as an operations and maintenance plan were being completed. An environmental impact assessment report was also being completed. It almost feels like a year has been lost given the fact that the Minister of State is talking about a plan for late this year. Can he confirm that the construction environmental management plan has been concluded and that an environmental impact assessment report has also been concluded? We know that RPS consultants had been engaged. I seek clarification from the Minister of State on the matter.

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Moynihan will appreciate that a lot of time has been lost due to Covid. It has been extremely difficult for my officials and officials in Cork County Council, but we have done a lot of desktop studies and the environmental impact assessment report will be progressed in tandem. It takes into account a number of factors, including the presence of the Kerry slug in St. Gobnait's Wood, which is a special area of conservation. This is a new one for me. A site investigation was carried out in 2018. The Deputy will be familiar with the pearl mussel and the complicated nature of the issue. They add to the complications of the OPW and Cork County Council in translocating a lot of these species. We cannot translocate the people we are trying to protect. They are contacting the Deputy, Deputy Creed, Deputy Michael Moynihan and all the other Deputies and councillors and asking when the flood protections will be constructed, rightly so. The matter is being raised in the House. I can sense the Deputy's frustration. He is right. As soon as we can progress the issue, we will.

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Minister of State. I take what he said at face value and that he will be progressing the scheme as quickly as possible. I know the significant effort that has been invested in the matter over a number of years. Many of the reports are desktop studies and should not be impacted by Covid. We need clarity on whether the various reports that looked like they were ready last summer are now concluded. I refer to the construction environmental management plan and the environmental impact assessment report. They should be out of the way at this stage and the scheme should be much more advanced. It is worrying to hear the question of the freshwater pearl mussel being raised again because we understood that the issue had been definitively addressed a year and a half ago. I am concerned to hear it might be back on the radar again.

Could we be assured that those various stages are concluded and that we are in a position to move more quickly to a public consultation, which we understood we were at last year?

8:10 pm

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I provided background information to the House to explain why the scheme has been delayed for so long, in terms of all of the hurdles the OPW has had to jump through. Every time we hit a hurdle, whether it is the pearl mussel, the Kerry slug or any other species that we have to put a framework around and design protection for, all of that adds to delays. The reason I am articulating that is to drive home the fact that we always encounter delays, and the delays can be unexpected. We have objections and judicial reviews. That has not been the case here, and I hope it will not be the case. We hope to get to a situation whereby we can carry out public consultation, design and construction. We have a commitment in terms of finance; that is not an issue.