Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clarify the situation in relation to his involvement with the Dublin City Council flood defence scheme at Clontarf, Dublin 3; when the Office of Public Works was first involved in this; if a summary of the situation will be given; if the OPW advised that the height of the defence scheme should be increased above the 1.2 metres agreed at local level; if the OPW offered advice or suggestions on the design of the proposed defences or if that was purely in the hands of Dublin City Council; the overall role of the OPW with major local authorities; if it has a role at every stage of the process or is merely a funding agency; if he will confirm the overall funding for flood defence this year; the amount Dublin City Council has been allocated for the Clontarf project; the spending profile for the project; if the various flood prevention measures can be outlined in relation to projects done in the past few years; and if the range of different measures can be specified with a specific example of each (details supplied). [30607/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Clontarf seafront area was identified as one of the areas most at risk of flooding in the Dublin Coastal Flood Protection Project study completed in 2005 by international expert consultants Royal Haskoning, which was commissioned by Dublin City Council and partly funded by the Office of Public Works. Following the completion of that Study, Dublin City Council appointed Royal Haskoning to design a flood relief scheme for the area. In August 2006 to Dublin City Council's Environmental Consultants for the scheme, OPW provided information on the standards and allowances to be considered in the design process to provide the appropriate level of protection.indicated that, in determining the height of the flood defences, the normal design standards for coastal and tidal flood defences along with the freeboard and Climate Change allowance should be used.

Dublin City Council then proceeded to design the scheme and it was progressed through the planning process. The Environmental Impact Statement and the Project were subsequently approved by An Bord Pleanála in 2008.

Although the scheme was being advanced by the City Council, OPW was asked to provide funding towards the costs of the design, which it subsequently did, with a total of €852,000 being provided between December 2007 and November 2010.

After receiving approval for the scheme from An Bord Pleanála, Dublin City Council decided to advance the scheme as part of the North City Watermain Project. The procurement process for the overall project, which includes the North City Water Supply Scheme Phases 1 & 2 and the flood defence works, was progressed as one contract for reasons of efficiency and economies of costs. OPW agreed in principle to provide the funding for the flood defence aspects of the works which were calculated as approximately 46% of the overall costs.

OPW has a large number of flood relief schemes at various stages of design and construction throughout the country. These are normally procured and managed directly by OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts in partnership with the relevant local authority. In some cases, the local authority, rather than the OPW, acts as the contracting authority. Under this approach, the local authority commissions the design of the scheme, procures the contractors and monitors progress and in doing so, uses the normal planning process, with funding being provided by OPW. In addition to major flood relief schemes, OPW developed the Minor Works Scheme in 2009, which is ongoing and which allows local authorities to make submissions to OPW for funding of localised flood mitigation works and studies with a maximum limit of €500,000 in each case.

The contracting authority for the Clontarf scheme is Dublin City Council. OPW's role is mainly that of funder and ensuring that appropriate standards of flood defence are provided. Clontarf is the first major coastal flood defence scheme which OPW has been involved with, but the flood defence measures proposed by DCC to be implemented in Clontarf are typical measures which OPW itself would normally include in its fluvial flood relief schemes. These include construction of wall and earthen embankments which, for example, form part of OPW schemes for the Rivers Tolka and Dodder in Dublin City, Clonmel, Co Tipperary and Mallow and Fermoy, Co Cork. Demountable defences are features of the schemes in Clonmel, Mallow and Fermoy, while a glass wall has been used in sections of the Waterford City scheme, which is being undertaken directly by Waterford City Council with funding from OPW.

The City Council has designed the scheme in Clontarf in such a way that incorporates the use of landscaping rather than extensive wall construction, which is designed to minimise impact while providing the appropriate level of flood protection.

In response to concerns raised from residents and members of the business community in the last few weeks, Dublin City Council made a presentation to a special meeting of Councillors of the North Central Area Committee last week. At that meeting, the Council agreed to arrange meetings with the residents with a further Area Committee to take place on the 7 November. OPW had a member of staff at the meeting who explained that the rationale for OPW providing funding for the scheme is based on the scheme being cost beneficial and that it would conform to the normal standards applying to such coastal schemes. OPW awaits the outcome of the further consultation process.

OPW received an allocation of €41Million in 2011 for flood relief activities plus a carryover of €4 million from 2010 bringing to €45 million the total available this year. €2 million was included in this year's allocation for the advancement of the Clontarf scheme. No definitive guarantees can be given regarding funding in 2012 for the Clontarf scheme. Much will depend on the outcome of the Government's Review of Expenditure, which is expected to be completed by end-October. Other demands for funding for other priority schemes could also impact on the availability of funding for the Clontarf scheme.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ringfence the funding for the proposed Clontarf flood defences to allow for a more comprehensive consultation process to take place with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30721/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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A provision of €2 million was included for the advancement of the Clontarf scheme in the OPW's 2011 allocation for flood mitigation measures. No definitive guarantees can be given regarding funding in 2012 for the Clontarf scheme. The availability of funding for the scheme will depend on the outcome of the Government's Review of Expenditure, which is expected to be completed by the end of this month, and on demands for funding for other priority schemes.