Written answers
Tuesday, 5 November 2019
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Flood Relief Schemes Status
Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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186. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date he last met officials in relation to the Glanmire flood relief works. [45311/19]
Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works, under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts, has submitted the proposal for the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for formal Confirmation.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has made regulations entitled European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019. These were published in Iris Oifigiúl on 27 September 2019. On foot of these Regulations the Minister will undertake an environmental assessment of the proposed scheme in line with required legislative requirements, and this will involve public consultation.
The procurement and appointment of a Contractor will be progressed for this scheme following formal Ministerial Confirmation. The flood relief scheme will be funded from within the allocated €1 billion for flood risk management over the period 2018-2027. Provision for the cost of the Scheme is included in the Office of Public Works' multi annual capital allocation.
OPW are committed to funding this project and attends monthly steering meetings to offer every assistance to Cork City Council to ensure a speedy progression of the process to engage a contractor and have works commence as soon as possible.
Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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187. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the provision of flood defences for Athlone town. [45356/19]
Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Westmeath County Council (WCC) working in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW) is advancing proposals to deal with the flooding issues in Athlone . WCC is the Contracting Authority and the OPW is funding the costs of the flood relief works for the town in addition to undertaking the construction works using its own direct labour.
Engineering consultants were appointed in April 2017, to identify appropriate flood risk alleviation measures for Athlone. The Options Appraisal Report identified eight discrete cells of flood defence works. These flood cells are each being progressed individually under Part 8 or Part 10 of the Planning and Development Regulations with works being undertaken by the OPW’s own workforce, as a direct managed scheme. The current status of each flood cell is set out in Table 1 below
Table 1:
| Flood Cell | Status |
|---|---|
| FC1 – Deerpark | Part 8 planning granted in September 2018. Works commenced in Q2 2019. Recent works include sheet piling works which are being undertaken in the showgrounds section. Anticipated completion Q4 2021. |
| FC2 – The Strand | Part 8 planning granted in May, 2018. Construction works commenced in Q2 2019. Ongoing works at Wolfe tone and Burgess park section. Anticipated completion Q3 2021 |
| FC3 – The Quay | Part 8 planning granted September, 2017. Construction works commenced May, 2018 with 95% of the flood wall now complete and flood gate threshold construction works ongoing. Anticipated completion Q4 2020. |
| FC4 – Brick Island | Part 8 planning granted January, 2018. Construction works commenced in April, 2018 with Priory Park flood wall complete along with associated land drain. Also complete are the Jolly Mariner and Brick Island flood defence wall and gate thresholds. Reinstatement works at Jolly Mariner have commenced. anticipated completion Q2 2020. |
| FC5 – Marine View | Part 8 planning granted March, 2018. Construction works commenced in Q3 2019 with embankment works at Wansboro field 75% complete; continuation of embankment work is weather dependent. Anticipated completion is Q4 2020. |
| FC6 – Iona Park | Construction is complete. |
| FC7 – River Al (Cregan) | Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is currently in hand. Planning approval and subsequent construction commencement dates are dependent on EIA findings. |
| FC8 – Golden Island | Part 8 planning granted September, 2018. Detailed design is being reviewed prior to the commencement of construction works. It is expected works will commence next year and take 15/16 months to complete. |
It is anticipated that all the construction works for the Athlone Flood Alleviation Scheme will be completed in 2022. When completed, the project will provide flood protection to approximately 560 homes.
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