Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Finance if the funding of €10 million, recently announced by the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, for flood relief works in Bandon, County Cork has been ring-fenced; when the money will be available to be drawn down; when he expects the works to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3192/10]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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Following the severe flooding which affected the town in Bandon, Co. Cork in November 2009, the Office of Public Works received a scoping report and an application from Cork County Council for the implementation of a flood relief scheme for the town. Following its examination of the report, OPW has decided to appoint consultants to identify the most cost effective option for a flood relief scheme, to which OPW has committed itself in principle, as I announced on a visit to Bandon on Friday, 15 January.

When the consultant's report is to hand, OPW, in conjunction with Cork County Council, will decide the best way to address the issues raised. Major flood relief schemes involve complex engineering design of options, environmental impact and cost-benefit assessments and construction operations, and invariably have significant lead-in times. It is too early to predict at this stage when works on such a scheme might be ready to commence.