Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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296. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress of flood protection works in Bantry, County Cork. [23471/20]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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312. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be made available for flood defences for Bantry, County Cork; if so, when such funding will be available; if a Natura 2000 impact statement has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24183/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 312 together.

The Flood Risk Management Plans launched in May 2018 include a recommendation to progress the project-level development and planning of 10 new Flood Relief Schemes for County Cork, including Bantry.

A steering group, comprising of representatives from the Office of Public Works and Cork County Council, is in place to progress the Bantry Flood Relief Scheme.  

Bantry is due to be implemented as part of the first tranche of 60 new schemes that have been prioritised for implementation nationally. 

Potentially viable flood relief works for Bantry, to be implemented as appropriate after project-level assessment and planning (or Exhibition and confirmation), would include Fluvial Flood Defences comprising of walls and embankments and Tidal Flood Defences comprising sea walls.  

These measures have a preliminary Total Project Cost Estimate of €6.7m and would protect 198 properties. Cork County Council, in partnership with the OPW, is currently finalising tender documentation for the procurement of Engineering Consultants to progress the development of this scheme and a Prior Information Notice (PIN) has been published by the Council on www.etenders.gov.ie.  The tender is due to be advertised very shortly.

Once consultants are appointed to progress the Flood Relief Scheme for Bantry, 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 this scheme. An Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening Report will be carried out during the development of the scheme, pursuant to Regulation 42 of S.I. No. 477/2011 (European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011), to determine whether any effect on the integrity of European Designated (Natura 2000) sites is likely.  Subject to the outcome of this process, a full NIS may be required.

In the meantime, the Council has appointed a contractor again this year to carry out treatment of Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) in the scheme area.  The first round was completed in August 2020 and the second round of treatment was carried out last week. 

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.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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297. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures being taken to ensure that the recent flooding on Bridge Street, Skibbereen, County Cork, is not repeated. [23472/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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On the 19th August, heavy rainfall led to significant surface water flooding in Skibbereen.  Flooding in Bridge Street occurred from the area known as ‘the Cutting’ on Rossa Road. Cork County Council was already implementing measures to deal with the risk at this location with funding provided by the Office of Public Works under the Minor Flood Mitigation & Coastal Protection Scheme, but the works were not completed before the flood event occurred and a partial blockage of the pipework may have taken place. When these works are completed, it is expected that the cause of this flooding will be addressed.

The issue in question is separate to the flood relief scheme for the town, undertaken by Cork County Council and funded by OPW. That scheme, offering protection to over 300 properties, commenced in 2016 and is substantially complete and has been largely operational since the end of 2018. This August saw the largest flood event in the River Ilen to have occurred since the scheme was substantially completed and it is estimated that, without the scheme being in place, up to 100 properties could have been flooded.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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298. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a matter regarding a pipe on the land of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23589/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works is investigating the matter further and a reply will issue directly to the Deputy very shortly.