Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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230. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the timeline for the proposed flood protection scheme in Arklow, County Wicklow; if the schedule of works will be aligned with works for the Arklow wastewater treatment plant to prevent potential flooding on the northside of the river in particular the Ferrybank area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56150/21]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Arklow Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Wicklow County Council, with support and full funding provided by the Office of Public Works under the OPW’s Capital Flood Relief Programme. As part of this scheme, Wicklow County Council intends to undertake engineering works along the Avoca River to mitigate the risk of flooding, including in the Ferrybank area. A planning submission for the scheme was lodged with An Bórd Pleanála in May of this year and, subject to approval, it is anticipated that archaeological works could commence on site in the summer of 2022.

Officials at Irish Water advise that the main contract works for the Arklow Wastewater Treatment Plant commenced in late September of this year. Works on asbestos removal, silt trenches and service diversions are ongoing. The design of the Wastewater Treatment Plant has had regard to the shared works element of the two schemes to the extent permitted in the planning permission. The details of the shared works elements will be reviewed in the context of the development of the final detailed designs of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Flood Relief Scheme respectively.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) for the Shannon River Basin, launched in 2018, includes a recommendation to progress a flood relief scheme for Ballinasloe. A Project Steering Group, comprising representatives from the Office of Public Works as Contracting Authority, and Galway County Council as project partners, is in place to progress the Scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 (as amended).

In 2019, the OPW appointed Engineering and Environmental Consultants to complete the design of the scheme, which will provide protection to 222 properties when complete at a preliminary cost estimate of €8.6m.

The main measures proposed include:

- Construction of flood defences (including 530m of new defence walls, 5,050m of flood embankments and a demountable flood gate).

- Construction of two new 6m wide flood alleviation arch culverts at Ballinasloe East Bridge.

- Construction of two Lock Gates across the Canal and a sluice gate across the channel flowing into the marina from the canal.

- Upgrade the existing Kilclooney Road Bridge on the River Deerpark and regrading of the riverbed upstream and downstream of Kilclooney Road Bridge to maximize efficiency of the upgraded structure.

- Maintain all existing defences and the West and East Atlas channels to ensure their full capacity can be utilised in a flood event.

Public Consultation Days.

As part of the consultation process for the scheme, and in order to raise awareness of the proposed flood mitigation works, a “Public Consultation Day” (PCD) was held on the 5^thof March 2020 which included a short presentation on the Scheme to Local Councillors. A further Public Consultation to discuss the emerging options for the Scheme will be held early in 2022. The OPW will be seeking input from all stakeholders and members of the public on the various emerging options under consideration, with a view to promoting a positive and inclusive approach to the scheme development.

OPW provides funding to Galway County Council for a Project Engineer to enable the Council to support the development of the Flood Relief scheme in Ballinasloe, and to progress flood relief schemes in Clifden and, in time, Portumna, and those schemes will be funded from within the allocated €1 billion for flood risk management over the period of the National Development Plan 2021-2030. Provision for the cost of the Scheme is included in the Office of Public Works' multi-annual capital allocation.