Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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315. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the relief available to businesses and residents who are unable to obtain flood insurance, pending the completion of the Douglas flood relief scheme in County Cork, which has been further delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23749/15]

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 Office of Public Works (OPW). It is expected that the Scheme will be brought though 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 Council 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 to 2017.

The OPW has no statutory responsibility for the provision of reliefs to businesses. In relation to the insurance element of the Deputy's question, insurance companies make commercial decisions on the provision of insurance cover based on their assessment of the risks they are prepared to accept on a case by case basis. The OPW has no role in relation to the oversight or regulation of the insurance industry or of insurance matters generally.