Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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422. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to previous parliamentary questions, when approval will be given for a drainage scheme on the Clare river; the reason for the delay with the approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31373/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has submitted the proposals for the Clare River (Claregalway) flood relief scheme for statutory approval or confirmation by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, as required by the Arterial Drainage Acts.

A report commissioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) on a required independent evaluation of the Environmental Impact Statement prepared for the Scheme by the OPW and its environmental consultants is still under consideration by DPER. Any queries arising from this evaluation are being addressed and until the evaluation is completed the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will not be in a position to confirm the proposed scheme for Claregalway.

I am advised however that the final evaluation report is due imminently and wish to reiterate that the OPW remains committed to carrying out the scheme, subject to the Minister's sanction, and has provided for the scheme's cost in its multi-annual capital expenditure profiles to 2017.