Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 212: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to support the full implementation of the Cobh landslide programme, County Cork.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13264/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department has provided significant financial assistance to Cobh Town Council for stabilisation works, necessary to ensure public safety, since the early 1980s. My Department remains committed to the stabilisation programme in Cobh. In order to ensure the best use of available resources and to gain a long-term expert view of the required works, my Department requested that an independent expert report be commissioned jointly by Cork County Council and Cobh Town Council. The councils appointed Malachy Walsh & Partners Consulting Engineers to assess the retaining structures in Cobh and to recommend remediation proposals, prioritising those works of greatest urgency. Since the finalisation of the consultants report my Department has engaged with both councils.

A number of site visits have taken place to ensure an appropriate programme of works is put in place so that the necessary public safety works are progressed as soon as possible. The two councils have prepared a prioritised scheme of works, to begin in 2011, which is organised into three groups for project management purposes. The tendering process for this work is in progress. It is expected that work on site will begin in July of this year. My Department has offered grant assistance for these works and sanctioned the employment of a Senior Resident Engineer and a clerk of works, on a fixed-term basis, to oversee the project. My Department will continue to engage with the local authorities to ensure that the accelerated delivery timetable for completion of these works is achieved.