Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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134. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received written agreements between two local authorities over the management and direction of a flood relief scheme (details supplied). [20699/19]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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In December 2017, the Government agreed to the revised boundary proposed by the Cork Implementation Oversight Group (oversight group), following on from the report of the Expert Advisory Group, issued in April 2017. The Expert Advisory Group recommended the extension of Cork City area into the current administrative area of Cork County Council. The Local Government Act 2019 established the Cork Boundary Alteration Implementation Oversight Committee (oversight committee).

Section 19 of the Act requires the oversight committee to make an Implementation Plan setting out the matters to be addressed by the two local authorities in order to achieve the timely, effective and equitable implementation of the boundary alteration to the administrative areas of Cork City and County Councils. Section 20 of the Act allows for the Local Authorities, after consultation with the oversight committee and before the transfer day, jointly making arrangements in relation to the Boundary Alteration.

The Boundary Alteration will impact two proposed flood relief schemes in the Cork area. The OPW met with the respective Local Authorities in Autumn 2018 to discuss the future management of these flood relief schemes (including the Scheme in question).

Further to that, and in accordance with Section 20 of the Local Government Act 2019, Cork County Council and Cork City Council drafted and forwarded to the OPW an agreed protocol for the future management of impacted Flood Relief Schemes (including the Scheme in question) in March, which complies with the overall principles of the Implementation Plan. This was reviewed and supported by the OPW in April, and a further meeting took place between Cork County Council and the OPW in early May to discuss and agree final clarifications.

While now agreed in principle, the OPW understands that the written protocol will be finalised shortly.