Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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260. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the flood relief scheme for the River Slaney, Enniscorthy town, County Wexford; if there is a completion date for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3486/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Enniscorthy (River Slaney) flood defence scheme is being progressed by Wexford County Council on behalf of the Office of Public Works as a scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. This is a significant scheme within the Office of Public Works €1.3 billion flood relief investment programme nationally, as part of the NDP 2018-2030, from which the relevant funding for the Enniscorthy scheme will be made available. On completion, the scheme will protect 236 properties in the town.

The proposed scheme includes river channel widening, river deepening, bridge relocation, and the construction of extensive glass panelled flood walls through the town. The estimated Total Project Budget will be approximately €51m when other costs such as fees, site investigation works, environmental mitigation, VAT, property/landowner compensation and future maintenance costs are taken into consideration.

The scheme is going through the confirmation process under the Arterial Drainage Acts, following submission to the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform for assessment in mid 2020. It is important to note that under Section 7.E of the Arterial Drainage Act Regulations 2019, the Minister can (a) make an order confirming the scheme, (b) refuse to confirm the scheme, or (c) refer the scheme back to the Commissioners for revision in specified respects.

There is a statutory obligation incumbent upon the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform to ensure that all aspects of complex legal and environmental compliance issues are satisfactorily resolved before a decision can be made in relation to the Enniscorthy scheme, on the basis of the options available to him. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently awaiting finalised reports and recommendations from the expert environmental consultants in relation to this matter before making that determination. A decision in relation to the Enniscorthy Flood Relief Scheme, as per the three options available to him, will be made at the earliest possible opportunity.