Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the flood relief plans to be put in place in two areas (details supplied) in County Cork. [9622/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Office of Public Works commissioned consultants in 2002 to carry out feasibility studies to assess flood risk and to develop flood alleviation schemes in the towns of Mallow and Fermoy in County Cork. Engineering reports were completed in late 2003 for both areas. Public information days were held in the spring of 2004 where the proposed works and the phased methods of implementation were outlined for the elected members and the general public.

The proposed scheme in Mallow includes the construction of new walls and embankments, new culverts, lowering of ground levels around Mallow bridge, and some use of demountable structures. The scheme will have flood protection against a one in 100 flood. Phase 1 of the scheme, involving the construction of new culverts in the town and road works on the Park Road, which will be funded by the Office of Public Works and executed by the local authority, is expected to commence in late April of this year. The contractor for these works will be appointed very shortly.

Full public exhibition of the scheme, as required under the Arterial Drainage Acts, is programmed to take place in early June 2005 at which point the public may make observations and comment which will have to be considered before moving to the next stage of the scheme.

The proposed scheme in Fermoy involves the construction of permanent walls and embankments along with the use of extensive demountable structures. The scheme will have flood protection against a one in 100 year flood. Before the Fermoy scheme is built it is essential to have an effective flood warning system in operation and the OPW has commenced this development as part of phase 1 of the scheme. The formal public exhibition of the scheme, as required under the Arterial Drainage Acts, is expected to take place in the autumn of 2005, which is slightly later than anticipated before, but is due to the need to review the hydrological and hydraulic analyses following the severe nationwide flooding in October 2004. Progress of the scheme will depend on the observations received during exhibition.

The timetable for completing all phases of these schemes will depend on the availability of funds and prioritisation of the large number of schemes that are required in various locations.