Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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917. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to his visit to Crossmolina, County Mayo in July 2016, if he will provide the details of the planned flooding prevention works for 2016 on the River Deel; the timescale for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25723/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Pending the commencement of works on the main flood defence scheme for Crossmolina which is currently in preparation, a number of interim measures are being progressed to address flood risk in the town and to enhance the resilience of the community to deal with flooding.

Mayo County Council (MCC) in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the local Flood Action Group, are currently progressing a pilot project for the installation of flood gates for properties in Crossmolina that flooded last Winter. All parties are working together to progress this project as quickly as possible. MCC has carried out a survey of households in the town and has received expressions of interest from over 60 homeowners for the installation of flood gates. OPW will shortly be appointing consultants within the next week to undertake surveys of individual properties to determine their suitability for floodgates, and to make recommendations for each property. MCC will procure a contractor to supply and install the flood gates based on the recommendations of the consultants.

Following discussions, the OPW, Inland Fisheries (IFI), and the National Parks and Wildlife Service have agreed a course of action for maintenance works in the area immediately downstream of the bridge on the right bank. This work which involves the removal of silt build up on a stone deflector structure in the river is subject to environmental screening and this is being progressed as quickly as possible. Tree cutting will be carried out by the OPW at different locations along the river in the environs of the town where this is environmentally feasible and of benefit and with MCC approval where required upstream of the bridge.

The OPW has also approved MCC's application for funding under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for a number of minor works projects in the town. The total funding approved for these minor works is €189,270. MCC has advised that a contractor started works on site on 12 September with an expected 6 week duration on site and subject to weather conditions.

In relation to the main flood defence plans for Crossmolina, a Public Information Day (PID) was held in April 2016 to inform the public and stakeholders of the current situation, and to seek views on the main options for protecting the town which are either by way of fixed flood defences in the town or a diversion channel option outside of the town. The majority of those who attended the PID were in favour of the diversion channel option.

The design team for the project is currently carrying out a detailed options assessment which cannot be completed until more detailed surveys concerning the ground conditions along the most likely route for the diversion channel have been completed. The survey work is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2016 (weather permitting). This will indicate whether or not the diversion channel option is feasible. If, following the completion of the survey work, the diversion channel proves to be feasible then, subject to design work on this option progressing satisfactorily, the latest program indicates that formal Public Exhibition of this option could be held by mid- 2017. As there is a requirement under this option to have sufficient data on low flow measurements in the river in order to properly inform the design of the channel, the program is critically dependant on having the right weather conditions to allow such measurements be taken. If the diversion channel option does not prove feasible then it should be possible to advance the alternative scheme option of flood defence walls etc. in the town more quickly with possible commencement of construction in 2018.