Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress on flooding project works for Ardcahan Bridge in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56471/22]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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When the Bandon river floods at Ardcahan it causes a great deal of disruption for people trying to get to Dunmanway and west Cork and to mid-Cork. The R587, which is the key artery from mid-Cork into west Cork, is blocked when the river floods. There has been a great deal of talk for many years about advancing flood defences and improvement works in the area and much investigation has been done. Could the Minister outline the progress on it as we need to see headway on getting the flood defences improved?

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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In the first instance, local flooding is a matter for each local authority to investigate and address. Where necessary, local authorities may put forward proposals to relevant central government Departments, including the Office of Public Works, for funding of appropriate measures depending on the infrastructure or assets under threat.

As there is no application on hand in the OPW for the location mentioned in the Deputy's question, my office contacted Cork County Council and it has advised that the area around Ardcahan Bridge has a history of flooding, whereby the R587 frequently becomes impassable to road traffic. To alleviate flooding at the bridge, the council's Dunmanway area office approached the regional and local road design office to examine the possibility of removing silt around Ardcahan Bridge as part of bridge works. Consulting engineers were appointed to progress the project in 2019. To date, the detailed design of the repair works to the bridge are substantially complete and include: structural bridge investigations; the production of a preliminary design report; extensive 2D hydrological modelling has been carried out; and environmental surveys have been completed, which have fed into the draft Natura impact statement.

The consultants are aiming to have the Natura impact statement completed by the first quarter of 2023. Works will follow once statutory approvals are in place. Cork County Council will liaise with the Department of Transport under its annual bridge rehabilitation programme, in the first instance to fund these works. I will bring this matter to the attention of the Minister for Transport.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for the overview. It is essential that headway is made on commencing the work. The Natura impact study was expected earlier this year, and it is frustrating and of concern for locals to hear that it will not be available until next year. I understand that Cork County Council is taking the lead role in the project. Once the various plans are ready, is there a possibility that the project could be fast-tracked through the planning services to ensure that work can advance as quickly as possible? We must also ensure that funding is in place to carry out the essential works. Has there been engagement on the matter?

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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As this is not a case where property is at risk, but where a road is concerned, it is therefore a matter for the Minister for Transport. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, has committed to speak to the Minister for Transport about the issue.

The area is located in a special area of conservation, SAC, and that makes it harder to get the consents. As to the question of whether it would be possible to have a fast track for planning, the only fast track that exists is emergency planning in case of bridge collapse or something like that. That is unlikely. I do not want to give the Deputy false hope there. As soon as the Natura impact statement is in, the council will be in a position to draw up its plans. There is no reason the council cannot progress matters. I think the design work is in place so there is no reason the council cannot pre-prepare its planning application and have a degree of parallelism such that it is ready to go when it gets its consent.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. It is very disruptive when that area floods. A key artery into mid-Cork and west Cork is disrupted and there is a great deal of disruption for locals as well. I thank the Minister of State for the various details on it. It is hugely important every effort be made to advance that work as quickly as possible in the interests of locals. I acknowledge the work the council and the various Departments have been doing on it.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I will take the Deputy's thoughts to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. The estimated cost of the project is in the region of €150,000, to give an idea of the size of it. I appreciate the impact this has on people in Dunmanway and in the west Cork and central Cork areas.