Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I have raised this issue of the ongoing flood situation affecting Skibbereen, in particular, before. The point I wish to raise is the ongoing delay in implementing the flood relief strategy and in putting in place a proper flood relief system.

The public consultation day was held in January 2012, approximately four months after the original scheduled day. The stage 2 public exhibition day is scheduled for 11 April 2013 but it has already been rescheduled from October, when it was originally supposed to take place. Over the past two years, these consultation days and exhibition days have been pushed out by between nine and 12 months, which is causing much concern.

In the past six weeks, we have had four flood weather warnings from Met Éireann and Cork County Council. In addition, there were three floods on the Mill Road on 18-19 and 21-22 December and on 18 January. On most of these occasions, the water was within millimetres of flooding private houses and businesses in the Skibbereen area. Needless to say that on some of these occasions, the road to the local hospital was blocked off because of the flood warnings.

I put on record my sincere thanks to the voluntary local flood committee. It sometimes comes in for much criticism because it is not delivering. I have met some of the members of the committee and during the dates on which there were flood warnings, they were up until 3 a.m., 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. watching the water rise and waiting until it receded before they went to bed.

In the previous debate on local government reform, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, spoke about the voluntary sector which should be given credit. This is a group of amazing people who have done trojan work. They are very reasonable people and are involved in the national flood forum, in liaising with local engineers on the council and in meeting Government representatives. In the past, the former Minister of State, Martin Mansergh, visited as did the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, who is due to visit again in a few months time.

I am deeply concerned that this town has suffered hugely as a result of flooding for the past 40 years. I know much progress has been made in other towns, such as Fermoy, Mallow, Clonmel and Kilkenny, and good luck to them. However, I am making the case that the delay in regard to Skibbereen must be addressed. I understand there are funds to address it. Whether it is a two or a three-year job to implement what is proposed for the Skibbereen flood relief scheme, the community, the elderly people living in the estates, the ratepayers and so on should not have to wait and suffer further consequences as a result of inaction and pushing the evil day further out. These delays are inexcusable and I trust the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, will have very positive news for me.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator O'Donovan for raising this important issue, which was debated before in the Seanad. A flood risk assessment and management study for the town of Skibbereen is being advanced by Cork County Council in partnership with the Office of Public Works, OPW, which is providing the funding. Consultants were appointed in 2011 and the project is currently at feasibility study and environmental assessment stage. There have been two information days where an initial preferred scheme was presented to the public, with the main proposals, including new walls and embankments, some localised channel widening, localised regrading of the channel and some improvements to the local drainage system.

While it was intended to place the preferred scheme on formal public exhibition towards the end of 2012, some delay was incurred due to the need to assess further information from the existing river gauges at Ballyhilty and the need to undertake further surveys. The delay is regrettable but it is vital that all available information is fully and thoroughly assessed before formalisation of the preferred scheme so that the most effective and appropriate scheme can be put forward for consideration by the people of Skibbereen and other stakeholders.

A date for the exhibition launch has now been set and I am pleased to say the process will commence on 11 April 2013. The proposals will be on display for one month with members of the design team attending on specified days to deal with queries from the public. Observations will be accepted for a further month, all of which will be assessed and responded to before further decisions are made on the progression of the scheme.

The OPW and Cork County Council have been in discussions in regard to ways in which some of the delay can be made up. It is now intended to bring forward the timing of the site investigations required for the progression of the detailed design of the scheme. This will allow the detailed design to commence as soon as the public exhibition phase is completed, subject to the preferred scheme being generally accepted by the public in Skibbereen.

As the Senator is aware from previous discussions, Cork County Council applied for separate funding in 2010 and 2011 for a study to develop an early flood warning system. However, as I have indicated before, it was considered best that the full feasibility study consider the efficiency of a flood warning system for the town rather than undertake another study. It is my hope that the scheme to be placed before the public in April will be received positively and that, subject to no significant delays occurring with the programme for the detailed design stage and procurement of a civil works contractor, it may be possible to commence construction works for the scheme in mid-2014. I am pleased to confirm that the OPW has made provision for the cost of implementing a scheme in Skibbereen in its financial profiles over the years 2014-16.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his very comprehensive response which gives much cause for optimism. He can take a message back, in particular to the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, for whom I have great respect, that should there be further delays, I will raise this again. I appreciate the Minister of State is not the line Minister but his response has been helpful. Go raibh maith agat.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted to note a definitive date has been set for April. The funding is in place for 2014 and that is important. I acknowledge Senator O'Donovan's involvement in this important issue and I compliment the voluntary committee in Skibbereen on the work it is doing. It is the Minister of State's intention, and that of the OPW, that there should be a public display so that there will be no major obstacle to the plan of action. Hopefully, it will proceed as quickly as possible.