Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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293. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a flood relief plan for Letterkenny, County Donegal, will be published. [37842/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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A major flood relief scheme for Letterkenny was identified in the Flood Risk Management Plan for the North Western River Basin, and is to be advanced over the period of the National Development Plan to 2027. The proposed project, with a preliminary Total Project Cost Estimate of €4.23m, will consist of a series of flood walls and embankments, along with the replacement of a footbridge on the Cullion watercourse, and is to provide flood protection to approximately 41 properties when completed.

While the proposed project for Letterkenny is not in the first phase of projects to be progressed, the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Donegal Co. Council are working closely to ensure that it will be commenced as early as possible in the current programme of investment.

The Flood Risk Management Plans announced in May 2018 recommended fifteen projects in County Donegal. Following consultation and discussions between the OPW and Donegal County Council, nine of the Donegal projects were selected and are being progressed in the first phase of implementation, in addition to a project already being progressed for Raphoe. Consultants have been appointed for the design of a projects for Lifford, Burnfoot, Castlefin, Glenties and Downings (the latter four bundled together), with Kerrykeel being progressed by OPW. Donegal County Council is also currently in the process of procuring design consultants for Ballybofey-Stranorlar, Buncrana-Luddan and Ramelton (also in a bundled format).

In 2017, the OPW provided funding to the Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for flood mitigation works at Oatfield Terrace and the Circular Road in Letterkenny. These works are now complete.