Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 233: To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 235 of 28 November 2006, the estimated cost of the Tramore Road element of the proposed Waterford city flood relief and details of the anticipated benefits resulting from the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41574/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A flood relief scheme, the John's River (Waterford City) Drainage Scheme, which aims to prevent or substantially reduce localised flooding in the John's River and the Lisduggan Stream catchment, was publicly exhibited in Waterford in March / April 2002. A report entitled John's River (Waterford City) Flood Relief Scheme – Potential for Phasing of Works was commissioned by OPW in 2003 and completed in 2004. This report investigated the viability of carrying out the flood relief works on a phased basis.

The report recommended that the proposed works, as exhibited, could be carried out in five phases. The fifth phase, incorporating works on the Tramore Road, provided for approximately 3 km of new road construction and associated road works and the re-alignment of several short sections of the John's River. The estimated overall cost of this phase was €7million. The benefit area would be the section of Tramore Road where the works would be undertaken. However, there are no properties in this area and the only benefit accruing would be in relation to avoidance of costs associated with traffic disruption. The phasing report concluded that the Tramore Road phase of the works had a negative benefit to cost ratio of 0.05 and was therefore not deemed to be economically viable. As it is a requirement of the Department of Finance that all flood relief works be economically viable, the decision was taken to omit this phase of works from the scheme and to proceed only with the remaining four phases. Also, the Report of the Flood Policy Review Group, which was approved by Government in September 2004, proposes that all future expenditure must be consistent with the Review's recommendations. The proposed works on the Tramore Road do not currently meet this requirement.