Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Flood Prevention Measures

Photo of Michael McCarthyMichael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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310. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29802/14]

Photo of Noel HarringtonNoel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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318. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will extend the consultation process on the Cork flood relief scheme to a three-day fully manned consultation period as requested by the Cork Chamber (details supplied) with the local business community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29228/14]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 318 together.

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the OPW is progressing the Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts. Under these statutory provisions, a 4-6 weeks consultation period will take place, through a formal Public Exhibition, which will be commenced before the end of 2014. There will be a number of days where members of the Design Team will be in attendance to deal directly with members of the public, all of which will be widely advertised. At that stage, the outline design of the proposed scheme will have been completed and will be displayed with full drawings to ascertain the views of the public and other stakeholders. Significant consultation is expected to take place with interested parties at this stage. All submissions made during the Exhibition period will be fully considered in the following months and any amendments arising from such submissions will be incorporated as appropriate in the detailed design stage of the Scheme.

In advance of the formal Public Exhibition stage, the OPW will hold a 2nd public information day in Cork City Council Offices for elected councillors and the public on 29 July, 2014 which will provide a brief outline of the emerging preferred scheme to be brought forward later in the year. This information day will be attended by members of the Design team to deal with queries from the public. It is also intended to keep all information on display for up to a further five days to facilitate those who might wish to comment at this stage. There will be a period afterwards for members of the public to submit their comments which can then be incorporated into documents for the Exhibition later in the year.

The purpose of the information day is to provide an overview of the emerging scheme. The full outline scheme documentation will not be available at that time as much work will still be required to complete all drawings and the Environmental Impact Statement. It is not proposed to extend the time period for this early information session as the main consultation period, at which more detailed information will be available, will commence within a few months thereafter. Committing the Design Team to be available for 3 full days at this point, as requested, would not be warranted.

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