Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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442. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the flood defence works in the Claregalway region given the legal difficulties regarding an EU directive which necessitates further environmental impact statements and has delayed the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32254/15]

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

For clarification, a separate or further Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required but rather the Confirmation or approval process requires the Minister to undertake an independent review of the EIS already prepared by the OPW and its environmental consultants to ensure that all legislative requirements have been complied with before the Scheme can be approved. This review has been ongoing and it is understood that a final report is due shortly by the consultants engaged by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to undertake the review. Until the report has been considered by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform the Minister will not be in a position to Confirm the proposed scheme for Claregalway.

I 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.