Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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91. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clarify the current position in awarding a contract for the Glashaboy flood relief scheme; the likely date when the contract will be awarded; when work is due to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56367/22]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I am seeking clarification on the current position on awarding the contract for the Glashaboy flood relief scheme in Cork, the likely date for the award of the contract and when work is due to commence.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The Glashaboy River flood relief scheme in the Glanmire-Sallybrook area of Cork is being progressed by Cork City Council. The Office of Public Works, in partnership with Cork City Council, is engaging proactively to progress the flood relief scheme for Glanmire. The Glashaboy flood relief scheme was confirmed in January 2021 by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 to 1995.

The scheme is being funded from the €1.3 billion in flood relief measures under the national development plan to 2030 and as part of Project Ireland 2040.

The Glashaboy River flood relief scheme will protect 103 properties from a significant risk of flooding. The tender documentation for the procurement and appointment of a contractor was issued in September 2021 with a return date of 24 January 2022. Unfortunately, Cork City Council was not in a position to appoint a contractor for the works on foot of this procurement process.

Cork City Council is proceeding towards issuing updated tender documents in the coming weeks, however, with works scheduled to commence in quarter 2 of 2023. The key project partners are working to minimise the overall delay in the completion of these works.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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The problem I have is that major flooding occurred on 28 June 2012. Houses had more than 6 ft. of water in them. We now have properties, businesses and private dwellings for which people cannot get insurance. The relief scheme was signed off back in January 2021. The whole process that occurred thereafter was too slow, however. When contractors were invited to send in tenders, the cost of doing this work went way up. The Minister of State said it would be a few weeks. I always get concerned about the use of that term because by the time the few weeks are over, costs will have gone up again. Is there any chance we can tie down specific dates for when invitations will be issued for tenders to be submitted, and a specific timeline for when tenders are submitted and agreement is reached on who is awarded the contract? I raised the issue of the time delay with the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at a meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts recently. It is a problem we are now running into.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I am assured by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that funding for this project has been secured. That is definitive. Second, I understand that these 103 families are now facing the risk of flooding but also the fear that they cannot ensure their properties. I understand this is a matter of urgency.

The first tender process collapsed due to inflation problems, which I spoke to the Deputy about at the time. The whole framework for procurement has been changed to take into account and remove the inflation risk as far as possible. Cork City Council is now proceeding towards issuing updated tender documents in the coming weeks. The aim is that the works will commence by quarter 2 of 2023. That is the clear timeline for that. I will keep the Deputy updated as we go along.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister of State confirming that the invitation for tendering will go out before Christmas? Will will have a timeline for when tenders have to be in and when a decision will be made about the awarding of the contract? Will that all be done by 31 March of the coming year?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We will take three more speakers before the Minister of State comes back in. I call Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister of State will be aware, I have a question later on the schedule that is unlikely to be reached, but it is on the same subject. The reason I stand here this evening is that there is much misinformation in the public domain regarding this project. It is important, particularly for the residents and businesses in Glanmire, that the Minister of State gives clarity and certainty. He half gave that already with regard to Deputy Colm Burke's question. Could he clarify for the audience at home specifically what the red tape hold-ups are, however? Can he clarify what processes specifically need to be adhered to in terms of the tendering process as we go forward? Obviously, there are legal conditions that need to be fulfilled. I would appreciate if he could give clarity on what they are specifically. The Minister of State confirmed this to Deputy Colm Burke, and the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath met with residents. However, can the Minister of State confirm once more that the money is there for this project?

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Glanmire flooded again recently, which affected businesses and homes. I was there on the night and saw the frustration and anger. The people and businesses in the community of Glanmire have been putting up with ten years of broken promises. They are sick of delays. This is like the Cork event centre. Every year, there is an announcement on flood protection for Glanmire but it is not delivered. They need flood protection now. They are facing into winter and every time there is a high tide or high rainfall is forecast, people in Glanmire cannot go to sleep at night. They are afraid to go to sleep because they could lose everything. The people affected have no flood insurance. Nothing has been done to protect them.

I spoke to a lovely retired couple who have lived in Glanmire for decades. They raised their family there. They are great neighbours. They are selling their home because they can no longer put up with the broken promises. The people of Glanmire need flood protection now.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputies. Behind every one of these flood relief schemes are tales of people who are of going through the anxiety, financial damage and mental trauma of having to deal with risk to their family home and their finances. I can confirm that the money has been secured. I stand beside the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform to say that very clearly.

Unfortunately, the tender for the project went ahead during perhaps the worst period for a public procurement tender to happen during a period of rampant inflation. By the time the bids came in, none of the people who bid wanted to stand over their bids because the price of material had gone up so dramatically. Therefore, a new anti-inflationary framework has been put in place to deal with that in order that our public tenders can go ahead. It legally had to be put out to re-tender. It is a legal requirement that all public works contracts over a certain amount of money go out for tender. That is now being assessed by Cork City Council. The information I have is that it is scheduled to commence construction during quarter 2 of 2023. I cannot give a clearer or more definitive indication. The information I have is that the project will commence in quarter 2 of 2023.