Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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149. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will approve funding for the lower Morrell flood relief scheme in County Kildare, to enable Kildare County Council to seek planning approval for the scheme from An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36744/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Lower Morrell River flood relief scheme is being progressed by Kildare County Council (KCC) as the Contracting Authority for the scheme with funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

I am advised that KCC and its consultants are currently working on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and detailed design of the scheme which includes liaising with the various landowners/stakeholders who will be impacted by the proposed works, in advance of the scheme being submitted for planning approval. Once the final details of the scheme have been designed and before the scheme is submitted for planning approval the Council will request formal approval from the OPW of the scheme and its funding arrangements. It is envisaged that this process will be completed early in 2017.

It is not possible to indicate when exactly works can be commenced until the scheme has been advanced through the planning process by the Council as outlined above but it is anticipated that works should commence before the end of 2017. I can confirm that the Lower Morrell Scheme remains a priority and the OPW has included provision for the cost of the proposed works in its financial profiles in the period up to 2020.