Written answers
Thursday, 28 January 2021
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Flood Prevention Measures
Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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73. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the flooding projects to be undertaken by the OPW in County Cork in 2021; the estimated cost of each project; the drainage projects to be undertaken by Cork County Council with financial assistance from the OPW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4963/21]
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Implementation of Flood relief projects is undertaken in the following ways – by OPW directly or undertaken by local authorities with financial assistance from The Office of Public Works.
Please see below in tabular form the schemes that will be underway in County Cork in 2021, their estimated costs and the status of each.
| Project | Lead by | Status | EstimatedCost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballinhassig | OPW | Scheme at prefeasiblity stage | TBC |
| Ballymakeery/Ballyvourney | OPW | Scheme at design/planning stage | €17.9m |
| Bandon | OPW | Scheme substantially completed in 2020. | €31.6m |
| Bantry | CCC | Tender documents for engineering consultant being finalised for issue. | €6.7m |
| Blackpool | OPW | Scheme has been submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure & reform for consent under Arterial Drainage Acts. | €20.5m |
| Carrigaline | OPW | Scheme is under review to confirm the technical aspects and viability, and, subject to outcomes, will then progress to Outline Design and Planning. | TBC |
| Clonakilty | OPW | Construction ongoing with scheme to be substantially complete in 2021 | €29m |
| Douglas(incl Togher culvert) | Cork City/County Council | Construction ongoing. Tender for Phase III to issue W/E 29/1/21 | €22.7m |
| Glashaboy | Cork City/County Council | Confirmation has been received from DPER. Preparation of tender documents for procurement of civil works contractor in progress. | €14m |
| Lower Lee (Cork City) | OPW | Scheme is at design stage and is expected to be submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform in mid 2021 for formal consent under the Arterial Drainage Acts | €140m (from public Exhibition stage in 2017) |
| Macroom | OPW | Scheme at pre-feasibility stage | TBC |
| Midleton | CCC | Scheme at scheme development and preliminary design stage | €50m |
| Skibbereen | CCC | Substantially complete. | €37.95m |
Localised flooding is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. However, it is open to Cork County Council and Cork City Council to apply for funding under the Minor Works Scheme, which was introduced by my Office on an administrative, non-statutory basis in 2009.
The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised fluvial flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short time frame. The works to be funded are carried out under local authority powers and ongoing maintenance of the completed works is the responsibility of the Council.
Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost-benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Full details of this scheme are available on www.gov.ie/opw.
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