Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

385. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of flood prevention plans for the River Deel; the timeframe for completion and planned construction schedule for these plans; if a budget is in place for these works; the work completed on the River Deel since December 2015 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24541/17]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A Public Information Day was held in April 2016 to inform the public and stakeholders of the current situation, and to seek views on whether the flood defences option or diversion channel option would be preferable locally. The majority were in favour of the diversion channel option. The Office of Public Works and the design team have taken the public’s preference into account and are currently completing a revised options assessment, which requires detailed surveys concerning the ground conditions along the most likely route for the diversion channel. It is expected this will be completed in Q3 2017. The hydrogeological assessment is nearing substantial completion and preliminary geotechnical investigations are complete. This will be followed by production of scheme documents and environmental reports, with Public Exhibition scheduled for January 2018. Assuming that the diversion channel proves to be the appropriate option, the cost of the scheme is expected to be approximately €10 million, and the OPW has included this figure in its budgetary estimates.

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. quickly with possible commencement of construction in 2018. In the interim, the following initiatives are underway to help alleviate the flooding problems in the town pending the delivery of the flood relief scheme:

- The Office of Public Works (OPW) and Mayo County Council (MCC), in conjunction with the local Flood Action Group, are currently progressing an Individual Property Protection (IPP) project for Crossmolina. MCC carried out a survey of households in the town and received expressions of interest from over 68 property owners for the installation of flood gates. To date, flood gates have been installed in 47 properties, with the remaining 21 gates set to be installed by the end of June.

- OPW has approved funding of €201,477 under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection scheme from 2015 to date to Mayo County Council for projects on the River Deel. MCC is now working on the delivery of a number of localised, minor flood mitigation measures. The timeframe for implementation of these measures is a matter for Mayo County Council.