Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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208. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the works at a location (details supplied) in County Galway. [44367/14]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Clare River (Claregalway) Drainage Scheme was submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) for Ministerial Confirmation i.e. statutory approval on 2nd November 2013. In accordance with normal procedure, the scheme documentation submitted to DPER included an Environmental Impact Statement which is a consultants report of the environmental impacts of the works and the Office of Public Works (OPW) proposals to mitigate those impacts as far as possible.

The Claregalway scheme is the first flood relief scheme submitted for Confirmation following the introduction of new Regulations in 2012 to give effect in Irish law to EU Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. As the Consent Authority for flood alleviation schemes under Section 7 of the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 – 1995, the Regulations require the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to (a) carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment of drainage or flood relief schemes prior to Confirmation or approval of the proposed schemes and (b) publicise his decision to Confirm or refuse to Confirm a proposed drainage scheme, inform the Commissioners and the public of the decision and to provide for a process for appeal/review of the decision and inform the public of this process.

Consultations took place with the Attorney General's Office in order to get clarification on how the new Regulations should be interpreted and implemented in the context of the Confirmation process for drainage schemes under the Arterial Drainage Acts.

Based on advice received from the Attorney General's Office, DPER has engaged experts to carry out an independent review as part of the assessment of the Environmental Impact Statement of the Claregalway scheme that was submitted by the OPW.

We currently await the outcome of the expert's review and the conclusion of the required public notification process.

The OPW remains committed to ensuring that the scheme will be completed as soon as possible and has provided for the cost of the works in its profiles of capital expenditure to 2016.