Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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72. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made by the Office of Public Works regarding the Douglas flood relief scheme; if firm commencement and completion dates have been established; if the project is on target to date; if the necessary planning permission has been obtained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18938/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Douglas Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Cork County Council as the Contracting Authority for the project as part of an overall scheme for Douglas and Togher, with funding being provided by the OPW. There have been two public information days held which have helped to advance the design of the Scheme, which is ongoing. A full Cost Benefit Analysis is currently being carried out, with the outline design of the preferred Scheme being finalised in the next few months. It is then expected that the Scheme will be brought though Public Exhibition/Planning in the third quarter of this year. Subject to the proposed scheme being accepted, the detailed design will be commenced and it is anticipated that this will take until the middle of 2016. Procurement of a civil works contractor will then be undertaken by Cork County Council. The Council expects construction to commence in the second half of 2016, subject to satisfactory completion of the necessary procurement and approval processes.

The OPW is fully supporting the Council in the progression of this Scheme and has made provision for the cost of implementing the scheme in its financial profiles over the years 2015-2017.