Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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62. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a written or informal agreement between Cork City Council councillors or the executive and the OPW in respect of the Morrison’s Island public realm project and related flood defence works. [42256/20]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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68. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if preparatory or design phase works on the Morrison’s Island public realm project and related flood defence works went through a tender process that was fully open to new applicants. [42262/20]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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69. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current and previous contractual relationship that exist between the Office of Public Works and the specialist consultants and architects involved in preparing method statements and technical drawings for the planning application for the Morrison’s Island flood works project. [42263/20]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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70. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a written or informal agreement between Cork City Council councillors or the executive and the OPW in respect of any future flood defence works in Cork city. [42264/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 68, 69 and 70 together.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) and Cork City Council have worked closely and collaboratively since the commencement of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme in 2013. Both organisations, along with Cork County Council, are represented on the project Steering Committee, which was formed at the inception of the project. While this Steering Committee provides the formal arrangement for cooperation between the OPW and Cork City Council, as well as other parties involved in the Project, the development of a formal agreement is to be progressed and put in place before the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme is Confirmed under the Arterial Drainage Acts.

During the course of the development of the Flood Relief Scheme, the City Council commenced the Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project. This project is aimed at bringing a comprehensive regeneration of this historic area through extensive public realm improvements that includes some flood defence elements.

The wider Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme already had a strong focus on public realm and conservation, and the design team has built up relevant skillsets in these areas for the Cork City area.  Given this, and the proposal to implement some flood defence elements into the Morrison’s Island Project, the Steering Group considered that it would be an appropriate, cost-effective and expeditious approach for the same design team to lead on the design of Cork City Council’s Morrison’s Island Public Realm Project, including the preparation of method statements and technical drawings. OPW supported this arrangement and a Collateral Warranty was put in place between the three parties. A formal agreement on the proportionate funding of the project will be finalised once the project budgeting is complete.

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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63. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a value for money review of flood defence works at Morrison’s Island has been undertaken; and if so, if the review has been published. [42257/20]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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64. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a value for money review been undertaken on Cork city flood defences versus a tidal barrier project with current construction costs and estimated flood risk for 2019-2020. [42258/20]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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65. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if value for money reviews were carried out of the use of demountable flood technology temporary and non-temporary for the Cork area; and if so, if the reviews have been published. [42259/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 64 and 65 together.

Every flood relief scheme designed, developed and/or funded by the OPW is subject to an economic appraisal. The assessment of alternative options for any proposed scheme examines a range of concept options for all schemes, and a robust multi-criteria analysis is used to inform the selection of the final preferred option.

The option chosen must represent value for money, as well as being technically feasible and environmentally sustainable. The use of demountable flood technology in the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, as with all elements of the scheme design, forms part of the final Cost Benefit Analysis of the scheme. These demountable elements have been the subject of cost estimates considered in the Cost Benefit Analysis, as indeed are the costs of the flood defences ultimately included in the Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project.

Arising from the public response to the scheme exhibition, significant additional elements to the scheme design have been introduced to address public concerns. The final cost estimate will be reviewed prior to confirmation of the scheme in line with the public spending code. The Cost Benefit Analysis from the earlier public consultation stage, is available to view on the project website, .

The Lower Lee FRS ‘Supplementary Report on Option of Tidal Barrier’ outlines cost estimates for a tidal barrier. This report, which identifies that a tidal barrage is not cost beneficial, was published in December 2017 and is also available to view on the project website.

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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66. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW has undertaken a study on nature-based solutions for flooding in the Shannon basin region; and if so, if the review has been published. [42260/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Under the Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) study an assessment was undertaken of the potential for the storage of floodwaters from the Shannon River in the Bord na Móna cutover bogs.  However, it was determined that these would provide insufficient storage to provide any substantial benefits given the volumes of water involved when the Shannon is in flood.

The potential for water retention is also considered at the community-level when assessing options for a flood relief scheme.  For example, the proposals in the Flood Risk Management Plans for Athlone and Shannon Town published on www.floodinfo.ie do include storage as part of the potential solution for managing fluvial flooding.

In terms of the delivery of the Flood Risk Management Plans, the Office of Public Works will work with the Environment Protection Agency, Local Authorities and other agencies during the project-level assessments of physical works and more broadly at a catchment-level to identify any measures, such as natural water retention measures, that can have benefits for the Water Framework Directive, flood risk management and biodiversity objectives. Such measures will be included as part of the development of schemes where feasible and where potential benefits exist.

In addition, the OPW is co-funding with the EPA a major research project entitled ‘SLOWWATERS’ to examine the effectiveness of soft engineering measures in agricultural lands, and is also funding another research project to examine the ecosystem services of Irelands forests for flood protection and water quality, with a view to better understanding the effectiveness of such measures and develop pilot sites in Ireland. The OPW also provided funding to the Inishowen Rivers Trust in Donegal to investigate the use of such measures to reduce flood risk and provide co-benefits.

The OPW is co-chairing with the EPA the Working Group on Natural Water Retention Measures that is intended to identify approaches that could be used to develop integrated catchment management measures to provide benefits to multiple sectors, such as biodiversity, water quality, sediment control, as well as for flood risk reduction. This working Group involves stakeholders from a broad spectrum of sectors

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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67. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW has undertaken a review of the Bandon flood works project in respect of the impact on the locality in terms of tourism, biodiversity and public amenity; and if so, if the review has been published. [42261/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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As an integral part of the development of the Bandon flood defence scheme, the Office of Public Works commissioned an extensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which was produced at the time of the Public Exhibition of the scheme in 2012. 

The study examined the likely direct and indirect impacts of the scheme on human beings, flora and fauna, geology and soils, water, air and noise, landscape, cultural heritage, material assets and their interrelationships, and set out specific mitigation measures to offset and reduce potential environmental and natural impacts.  The full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is available on the project website at http://bandonfrs.ie.  Following detailed design of the scheme, OPW commissioned an addendum to the EIS to assess further possible impacts under the same headings and provided further mitigation measures. 

Prior to the Confirmation of the Scheme by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), DPER commissioned an independent review of the EIS to fulfil the requirements of the relevant Environmental Regulations (European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) Arterial Drainage Regulations 2012).  The Scheme was confirmed on the 4th of April 2016 subject to Conditions based on expert recommendations from the independent review, which included the introduction of a Schedule of Environmental Commitments based on the substantial mitigation and monitoring measures as proposed in the EIS and associated documents.  OPW has not initiated any further review of the Bandon flood works project in respect of its impacts.  However, throughout the construction phase of the Scheme, and following its substantial completion in October of this year, the measures contained in the Schedule of Environmental Commitments have been implemented. 

OPW recognises that the construction of any flood relief scheme is likely to have temporary adverse effects. OPW believes that the nett benefit for the town of now having effective flood defences in places outweighs the mitigated short term impacts. 

Over many years, Bandon has been badly affected by periodic severe flood events that greatly adversely affected the economic and general well-being of the town.  Although it will take time for the river and its environs to recover fully from the impacts, the town’s economic and social prosperity is considered to be enhanced due to having the threat of periodic flooding greatly diminished - to the 1 in 100-year flood event standard of flood protection.  In addition, scheme elements such as improvements to Bandon Bridge, the construction of a new pedestrian footbridge and other public realm enhancements have improved the fabric of the town and allow for greater enjoyment of the town for its citizens and for visitors to Bandon.

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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71. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the contract between the OPW and a company (details supplied) in Cork city in respect of the original contract value related to public realm and flood defences and current estimates for work. [42265/20]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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73. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the contract between the OPW and a company (details supplied) in Cork city in respect of the original contract value related to public realm and flood defences and current estimates for work. [42267/20]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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74. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the contract between the OPW and a company (details supplied) in Cork city in respect of the original contract value related to public realm and flood defences and current estimates for work. [42268/20]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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75. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the contract between the OPW and a company (details supplied) in Cork city in respect of the original contract value related to public realm and flood defences and current estimates for work. [42269/20]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the contract between the OPW and a company (details supplied) in Cork city in respect of the original contract value related to public realm and flood defences and current estimates for work. [42270/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 73 to 76, inclusive, together.

The Office of Public Works (OPW), in conjunction with Cork City Council, is currently developing the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme (LLFRS). The OPW appointed Arup Consulting Engineers (Design consultants), and Ryan Hanley in association with MKOS (Environmental consultants), following open tender competitions in 2013, to develop the scheme and bring it through all stages to full implementation.

Both procurements were undertaken using the Public Works Contract (PWC) Forms of Tender and Standard Conditions of Engagement. The scope of the tendered work was defined on the known requirements at tender stage, but also included the undertaking of detailed specific investigations. As is usual in these types of projects, these investigations highlighted the need for further analysis and input in respect of hydrology, hydraulic modelling, public consultations and environmental assessments. While it is acknowledged that overall expenditure will exceed the initial tender sums, such additions to the tender sum are necessary and do not render the contract materially different. It would be neither feasible nor cost effective to re-tender services once a given increase in additional work is reached, as this would cause inordinate delay, inconsistency in design evolution and unsustainable cost inefficiencies, including possible cost duplications arising. Given the nature of flood relief schemes generally, and this one in particular, the continuity and the evolving understanding of the environmental and technical detail is critical to the success and viability of this complex project. 

There is no direct contractual relationship between OPW and the Paul Hogarth Company or Alastair Coey with respect to the LLFRS as both are sub consultants to the main design consultants.

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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72. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of contracts related to Cork flood defence works that have been run through a restricted and or invited tender process. [42266/20]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Since the commencement of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has procured all its contracts through open competitions, with the exception of a minor competition for a Road Safety Audit, which was procured by seeking quotations from four companies, as this was well below the threshold limit for open competition.