Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of flood defence works at King's Island, County Limerick; the estimated amount they will cost; when the work will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26928/19]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The King’s Island Flood Relief Scheme forms an advanced part of the overall Limerick City & Environs Flood Relief Scheme. Following severe flooding in Limerick City in February 2014, a commitment to funding both temporary and permanent flood defence works was given by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to Limerick City and County Council (LCCC). Funding was provided by the Office of Public Works to Limerick City and County Council for the construction of sheet piling behind an embankment, completed in 2014, and for advance works on Verdant Place, which consisted of repointing the existing stone wall and construction of reinforced concrete wall to the rear. These works were completed in 2017.

Consultants were appointed in 2015 to develop the permanent flood relief scheme for King’s Island and it is estimated that the full scheme, including those public realm elements to be funded by Limerick City and County Council, will cost in the region of €26m and will protect approximately 450 residential and 23 commercial properties (This is a pre-tender estimate that may change following the detailed design and procurement process, and will be subject to market conditions at the time of tender). Limerick City and County Council is scheduled to lodge planning with An Bord Pleanála in Q3 of 2019 with a construction completion date of Q4 2021.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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81. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the flood defence works at Corbally, County Limerick; the estimated amount they will cost; the estimated start and completion date of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26929/19]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) programme, the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State, culminated with the launch of 29 Flood Risk Management Plans on 3 May 2018. These Plans proposed 118 new outline flood relief projects on top of the 42 major projects already completed and the 33 major schemes within the existing capital works programme of the Office of Public Works (OPW). They included a recommendation to progress the project-level development and planning of a Flood Relief Scheme for Limerick City & Environs, which includes the Corbally area.

There is a project steering group in place for the Limerick City and Environs Flood Relief Scheme, comprising of OPW personnel and representatives from Limerick City and County Council. This group first met in September 2018 and is currently progressing the preparation of a Project Brief for the procurement of Engineering and Environmental Consultants. It is scheduled to go to the Office of Public Works’ Engineering and Environmental Consultants framework in Q3 of 2019.

Once consultants are appointed to progress this Flood Relief Scheme, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the public, will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of these schemes.

The preferred option identified under the CFRAM programme for Limerick City and Environs (including King’s Island) has a preliminary project cost estimate of €56m. Full information on the proposed scheme can be found at www.floodinfo.ie.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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82. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the flood defence works at Castleconnell, County Limerick; the estimated amount they will cost; the estimated start and completion date of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26930/19]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Castleconnell, Co. Limerick, was one of 300 areas believed to be at significant flood risk nationally, and hence assessed as part of the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the largest ever flood risk study carried out in the State. The CFRAM Programme culminated with the launch of 29 Flood Risk Management Plans on 3 May 2018, and proposed 118 new outline flood relief projects on top of the 42 major projects already completed and the 33 major schemes within the existing capital works programme of the Office of Public Works (OPW).

All of these projects are to be funded under the Government's 10 year flood risk investment programme of almost €1 billion under the National Development Plan 2018 – 2027.

As it is not possible to progress all 118 proposed new schemes at once, funding of €257 million was also announced for an initial phase of 50 flood relief projects throughout the country, to be progressed to detailed design and construction; including the five largest schemes identified in the Plans and 31 small, or minor projects (with an estimated preliminary project budget of under €1 million), which will be progressed directly by Local Authorities. The proposed flood relief scheme in Castleconnell is included in the 31 small projects under €1 million, and is being progressed directly by Limerick City and County Council with full funding from the OPW.

Potentially viable flood relief works for Castleconnell (to be implemented subject to project-level assessment) are likely to include construction of a new flood defence wall, embankment and floodgates, and raising roads in key locations, along with maintaining the existing flood forecasting and public awareness campaign operated by the ESB. The flood protection measures identified under the CFRAM programme are to an outline design, and are not at this point ready for construction. Further detailed design, including a review of costs and benefits, environmental assessment, and consultation will be required for such works before implementation. Therefore, the exact location in Castleconnell at which the defences will be built will be determined through detailed design and project level assessment.

Accordingly, Limerick City and County Council invited tenders for Engineering and Environmental Consultants for this project in January 2019. A preferred tenderer was identified and has now been appointed to progress this scheme. The preferred option identified under the CFRAM programme has an estimated preliminary project cost of €720,000. This is a pre-tender estimate and may change following the design and procurement processes, and will be subject to market conditions at the time of tender.