Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made in relation to a project (details supplied) in County Mayo; the position regarding the hydrologists report in relation to same in view of the fact this report was commissioned four years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40416/11]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works completed a study in 2009 into the feasibility of a number of possible flood alleviation measures in the area concerned. These measures included the construction of new channels to provide drainage into Lough Corrib and Lough Mask.

As indicated in my response to the House of 3 May, 2011, the study identified no practical drainage solutions, and road raising was found to be the only practical option available to alleviate flood risk. A subsequent application by Mayo County Council, under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme, for funding for these works was not approved as they fell outside the scope of the Scheme.

The OPW has recently met with Mayo County Council to discuss flooding issues generally in Co. Mayo, including the Neale. Subsequent to these discussions, OPW and council engineers have exchanged information with a view to assessing the viability of providing a flood relief route via the proposed trench for the local water services upgrade to be undertaken by the council.

Should the council bring forward a feasible proposal to undertake drainage works as part the water services upgrade, it will be open to the council to submit a funding application under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme. Any application received will be assessed in accordance with the scheme eligibility criteria and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.

It should be noted that while the proposed water services infrastructure can follow the ground contours, a flood relief conduit would have to be constructed at a gradient, or at various gradients, with appropriate pumping. Such engineering requirements will impact on the economic viability of any proposal identified.