Written answers

Tuesday, 13 July 2021

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Flood Risk Management

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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294. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the completion of the flood relief scheme in Bantry, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38087/21]

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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295. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the completion of the flood relief scheme in Skibbereen, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38088/21]

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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296. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the completion of the flood relief scheme in Bandon, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38089/21]

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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297. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the completion of the flood relief scheme in Clonakilty, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38090/21]

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 to 297, inclusive, together.

Bantry:

The Flood Risk Management Plans launched in May 2018 include a recommendation to progress the project-level development and planning for a flood relief scheme for Bantry.  A steering group, comprising representatives from the Office of Public Works and Cork County Council, is in place to progress the Bantry Flood Relief Scheme.  The Plans, with outline design of possible measures, estimated a preliminary Total Project Cost of €6.7m and a scheme to protect some 198 properties. 

On 11 March 2021 Cork County Council, in partnership with OPW, issued the tender documentation for the procurement of Engineering Consultants, to develop, design and bring the scheme through construction, via www.etenders.gov.ie.  Tenders are due for return on 26 July 2021.

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.  In the meantime, Cork County Council has engaged a contractor to treat some of the invasive species in preparation for a flood relief scheme for the town.

The flood relief scheme will be funded from within the allocated €1 billion for flood risk management over the period of the National Development Plan 2018-2027.  Provision for the cost of the Scheme is included in the Office of Public Works' multi-annual capital allocation.

Cork County Council has also commenced the preparation of the Consultants Brief documents to carry out the repair and re-construction of the Main Street Culvert, which has been a significant element contributing to flooding on Main Street, New Street and north and south of Wolfe Tone Square in recent months.  The OPW is liaising with Cork County Council on the integration of these works with the flood relief scheme for the town.

In March 2021, an application under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for interim works to mitigate flooding in Bantry, which includes installation of non-return valves and provision of mobile pumps, was submitted to the OPW by Cork County Council.  This application is currently under consideration.

Furthermore prior to weather events, local CCC staff are implementing interim measures to assist mitigate flooding such as deployment of sandbags at Sands Quay and mobile pumping.

Skibbereen:

The SkibbereenFlood Relief Scheme was substantially completed on 6th June 2019.All identified defects arising from the construction have been remedied, with some delays as a result of Covid-19.

Planning for the operation and maintenance of the scheme is ongoing in conjunction with Cork County Council, who will act as agents of the OPW in carrying out the statutory operation and maintenance of the scheme.  A small number of works to address elements identified during construction, which were outside the main construction contract, remain to be completed and are being progressed in separate works packages.

In addition, some drainage works on Cork Road, which fall outside the remit of the main Scheme, have subsequently been identified as being necessary.  Detailed assessments are currently being progressed by Cork County Council and consultants RPS, in conjunction with the OPW and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), to identify the most effective solution.  The OPW is providing funding under the Minor Works & Flood Mitigation Scheme towards these works.  While work is currently ongoing on the development of a solution, the Council is not yet in a position to confirm the programme times in relation to planning approvals and construction.

Following the flood event, which occurred in August, 2020 in the Rossa Road area, Cork County Council and its consultants have been undertaking assessments of the problem.  While all assessments are not yet finalised, some discussions have taken place with a local landowner with a view to completing some remedial/improvement works this summer.  Any further works can only be progressed once the required reports are completed.

Bandon:

The BandonFlood Relief Scheme was substantially completed on 16th October 2020.

A number of additional minor items are still planned to be completed, such as fencing, railings and conservation works to Bandon Bridge.

Work is ongoing on preparing the operation and maintenance plans for the scheme and it is envisaged that the maintenance and operation of the scheme will be carried out for and on behalf of the OPW by Cork County Council.

As part of the recently completed flood relief scheme for Bandon, the Office of Public Works installed a large ‘rock-ramp’ fish pass in the Bandon River, measuring some 130m, in October 2018.  The rock ramp was essential to mitigate the impact on fish passage at the weir, which arose from deepening the channel downstream of the weir.  The fish pass was designed by international experts, with input from national experts in the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLH), along with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).

In March 2021, the OPW became aware that the boulders, rock and gravel material that formed the bed of the ramp had deteriorated, possibly as a result of extreme flows in the river in February 2021. The OPW immediately carried out inspections, accompanied by IFI representatives and the fisheries’ specialist on the Project.

The site inspections identified serious deterioration of the rock and gravel bed materials used in the construction of the fish pass, over its full length.  Of immediate concern was the erosion of bed material at the upstream end of the fish pass, which had resulted in the retaining wall, originally constructed below the bed level of the pass, becoming exposed and creating a ‘step’ up from the bed level immediately downstream of it.  The situation was creating serious difficulties for various aquatic species in migrating over this newly exposed ‘step’ at the upstream end of the fish pass, particularly in low flows.

The OPW and IFI agreed that urgent measures needed to be implemented to alleviate this problem.  An Appropriate Assessment Screening was completed, in line with the requirements of the Habitats Directive, and an AA Determination Statement was prepared. The proposed solution comprised large, natural boulders placed in a line across the width of the fish pass - close to the ‘step’ at the upstream end of the pass - to create a pool from which the fish can pass with greater ease.

Following consultations with landowners for access for the proposed works and following environmental approval, the emergency works were successfully completed.

While these emergency works were critical in solving the immediate problem, an investigation into the reasons for the deterioration of the bed material on the fish pass has commenced and a longer term solution will be developed with a view to fully rectifying the issue with the carrying out of any necessary works when the investigations are completed.

Clonakilty:

The ClonakiltyFlood Relief Scheme undertaken by the Office of Public Works in partnership with Cork County Council was substantially completed on 4th February 2021 by the main contractor, Ward and Burke Ltd and now provides protection to 296 properties.

A number of minor works to address outstanding items and snags will be completed by the contractor during the coming weeks.

Planning for the operation and maintenance of the scheme is ongoing in conjunction with Cork County Council, who will act as agents of the OPW in carrying out the statutory operation and maintenance of the scheme.

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