Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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222. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress on the Morell river drainage scheme at Straffan, Sallins, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16620/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) and Kildare County Council (KCC) are working together in progressing the Lower Morell Flood Management Scheme with KCC acting as the Contracting Authority for the project with funding provided by the OPW.

The proposed Scheme along with an Environmental Impact Assessment Report was submitted to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) by the Council on 15th September, 2017. Approval was granted by An Bord Pleanála in April 2018 for the scheme to proceed subject to conditions.

A Judicial Review of An Bord Pleanala's decision to approve the scheme was submitted by a landowner in July 2018 which caused significant delays to the scheme. An agreement between KCC and the landowner in question has recently been settled which has allowed the scheme to move ahead.

All of the required baseline surveys will commence shortly. Works are expected to commence in the coming weeks following the completion of these surveys and it is anticipated that the scheme will be completed by 2022.