Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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58. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the flood relief measures for County Louth; the progress to date; the additional staffing resources provided by the Office of Public Works to Louth County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11508/22]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister of State the status of flood relief measures for County Louth, including the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme; the progress to date; and the additional staffing resources that will be provided by the Office of Public Works, OPW, to Louth County Council.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In 2019, the OPW completed a flood relief scheme at Bellurgan at a cost of some €700,000. It protects 35 properties. The evidence provided by the CFRAM programme, which was launched in May 2018, supports the Government's €1.3 billion planned investment in flood relief through the national development plan as part of Project Ireland 2040. One key output of the CFRAM programme was the flood risk management plans that contain proposed flood relief measures informed by costs, benefits and environmental factors to address the flood risk in each assessed community and nationwide. To deliver the proposed measures set out in these plans, Louth County Council, working with the OPW, has agreed to be the lead agent in the delivery of flood relief schemes at Dundalk, Blackrock south, Drogheda, Carlingford and Greenore, Baltray and Ardee, all of which are in the first tranche of projects being progressed.

The development of flood relief schemes, overseen by project steering groups with representatives meeting monthly from the OPW and Louth County Council, involves five distinct, sequential and related stages. The first stage involves assessing the flood risk and identifying options, followed by planning, detailed design, construction and maintenance. Public consultation forms part of each stage and project websites, available on floodinfo.ie, provide updates on each scheme.

The Dundalk, Blackrock south and Ardee projects, which are being progressed simultaneously, were chosen by Louth County Council as the first project to be advanced in Louth.

The tender for engineering and environmental consultancy services was awarded in 2020 to a joint venture between Binnies, formerly Black & Veatch, and Nicholas O'Dwyer Limited. The proposed scheme will protect some 1,880 properties when completed and the scheme option is expected in the first half of 2023.

In regard to the Drogheda and Baltray schemes, the tender for engineering and environmental consultancy services was awarded to RPS Consulting Engineers Limited in September 2021. The proposed scheme will protect 450 properties when completed and the scheme option is expected at the end of 2023.

The OPW is meeting Louth County Council over the coming weeks to discuss finalising the engineering and environmental consultancy services tender brief for the Carlingford and Greenore scheme. Unfortunately, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is indicating that my time is up.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Obviously, projects such as those for Dundalk, Blackrock, south Drogheda, Carlingford, Greenore, Baltray and Ardee are vital for the future. Given the circumstances we find ourselves in regarding climate change, etc., it is absolutely necessary that we get them done as soon as possible. In fairness to the Minister of State, he furnished me with some details in writing a week or so ago, which I appreciate.

There is a wider question, which relates to places such as Annagassan and Termonfeckin. I understand the CFRAM process investigated possible structural flood relief measures for both of those towns but an economically viable scheme was not identified and a review of risks, likely costs and benefits is to be undertaken. The OPW had put in place a process for undertaking such a scheme viability review, SVR, process, including for Annagassan and Termonfeckin. Will the Minister of State provide some detail on that general process?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Thank you, Deputy. The Minister of State to respond.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Is he looking at anywhere beyond those areas?

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I was in County Louth with our colleague, Deputy O'Dowd, not too long ago, where I met with officials from Louth County Council. In the case of Annagassan and Termonfeckin, the CFRAM process investigated possible structural flood relief measures for both but economically viable schemes have not been identified. The OPW is undertaking a review of the risk in both communities and the likely costs and benefits of the scheme will be included in that. The OPW has put in place a process for undertaking such a scheme viability review, the purpose of which is to determine whether potential schemes should be taken to the full flood relief scheme project stages. Once the outcome of the SVR is known, the OPW will discuss the results with Louth County Council. Further work on this is being undertaken between the OPW and the council. We appreciate that the risk will not go away in these vulnerable locations. All of the Louth coastline, through the Meath coastline and into north County Dublin is a particularly vulnerable area. A 1 m rise in Irish seawater levels is not going to lessen that vulnerability.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I appreciate the Minister of State's answer. It is vital that due diligence is carried out as to what best fits in sorting the problems in places such as Annagassan and Termonfeckin. I am also thinking of areas such as Dromiskin that have flooding difficulties. Will any other places be considered for the these types of SVRs? Beyond that, is there a wider timetable for when some of these projects will start to be put in place properly, having regard to the planning difficulties about which the Minister of State has spoken? A review in this regard is on ongoing by the Attorney General, which I expect will come to some sort of positive solution around some of these issues.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I want to raise the issue of regular flooding on the Kylemore road in County Galway. When flooding occurs, it no longer likes a road but instead like a river. It is extremely dangerous for people who are trying to pass. The road is regularly used by tourists, who may not understand the dangers posed by the flooding. When it is impassible, it means a 30 km detour for anybody wanting to go through there. An associated issue is that concerns have been raised about the impact dredging would have on the pearl mussel. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that if a report needs to be done, it should be done now. We cannot continue with a situation where flooding is occurring at the same level as it currently is, given the impact on members of the local community going about their daily business.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I am not sure the Deputy's question was relevant to County Louth.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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There was a bit of poetic licence.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I am sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I usually do not come in on colleagues' questions.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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It is okay to come in on a question but the point raised must be relevant to that question, which in this case relates to a particular county.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I only saw it was to do with flooding.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I will leave it to the Minister of State as to whether he wants to respond.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Given the pertinent issue Deputy Farrell has raised, I am sure the discretion of the Chair will be exercised and some leniency can be given.

On Deputy Ó Murchú's questions, Louth County Council has the option of progressing some of the minor issues through the OPW's minor works scheme. We are encouraging local authorities to work with us on that. In fairness to the council, it has a very proactive history of engagement with the OPW. I was very impressed with the engagement I had with the county manager and senior officials when I met with them in Drogheda to discuss what is proposed for that town as well as the larger schemes such as that for Dundalk. The reviews of the other schemes will be concluded probably at the back end of this year or the first quarter of next year.

In regard to the issue with the Kylemore road referred to by Deputy Farrell, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle may also be interested in my answer. The Deputy has brought the issue to my attention and my officials in the OPW are looking at it. On the point she raised relating to a particular species of mollusc, the matter will require appropriate assessment, including environmental impact assessments. I understand Galway County Council has undertaken work in this regard but I am not aware of the extent of it. I will come back to the Deputy with a more comprehensive answer in this regard. My primary concern is, I am sure, one shared by her and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, which is to ensure access for people in the relevant parts of Connemara and south Mayo, as well as those near the Kylemore road.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We must move on.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am sure the Deputy sitting behind Deputy Farrell, as well as Deputy Ring, Senator Kyne and others are equally interested. I will come back with a fuller answer.