Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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98. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of all current and proposed flood relief schemes for County Cork. [10497/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The status of schemes currently being implemented, as well as those proposed, for Cork County, is set out below. In respect of the Bandon, Skibbereen and Clonakilty Flood Relief Schemes, which have all reached substantial completion, I refer the Deputy to the responses issued to questions 251, 252 and 253 on the 9^thSeptember 2021.

Bantry

The Bantry Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Cork County Council, in partnership with the OPW. Following a tender competition, Cork County Council appointed JB Barry and Partners Ltd. in a joint venture with JBA Consulting Ltd. on 3rd February last as engineering and environmental consultants to carry out the design of the Bantry Flood Relief Scheme. The Steering Group, comprising representatives from the Office of Public Works, Cork County Council and the Engineering Consultant is now taken place to progress the Bantry Flood Relief Scheme. The measures currently proposed for Bantry will protect some 198 properties. In tandem with progressing this scheme, Cork County Council is preparing the consultants brief, to carry out the repair and re-construction of a culvert on Main Street, which is expected to issue in the first quarter this year. This culvert has been identified as a significant element contributing to flooding on Main Street, New Street and north and south of Wolfe Tone Square in recent months. The OPW and Cork County Council shall continue to liaise on the integration of these works with the flood relief scheme for the town.

Midleton

The Midleton flood relief scheme is currently in the final stages of scheme development of a number of flood relief options and the identification of a preferred scheme which is expected to be completed by Quarter 3 of 2022. It is also expected to move to planning stage towards the end of this year. The next Public Participation Day is to be scheduled for Quarter 2 of 2022. A Scheme Climate Change Adaptation Plan is being included in the scheme to aid in current and future options. The Midleton Flood Relief Scheme will protect some 246 properties when complete.

Ballyvourney/Ballymakeera

The OPW, in partnership with Cork County Council, are engaging proactively to progress a preferred option for the Ballyvourney/Ballymakeera Flood Relief Scheme and to provide proposals for Public Exhibition to inform a scheme that is technically, environmentally and economically viable to proceed to detailed design stage. Environmental surveys were updated in 2021 by the environmental engineers on the project with a view to completing the Environment Impact Assessment and to ensure that suitable mitigation requirements are implemented and appropriate processes to comply with statutory provisions are followed. The scheme will protect some 90 properties when complete.

Ballinhassig

A pre-feasibility study into the flooding issues in Ballinhassig has been completed by the Office of Public Works and has identified a preferred option for the area. Further assessment of the environmental impacts is currently being reviewed to inform the planning process, after which the project will progress to planning and detailed design. The scheme will protect some 8 properties when complete.

The proposed schemes for Ballingeary, Inchigeelagh, Inishannon, Castlemartyr, Castletown Bearhaven, Kanturk, Rathcormack, Schull and Youghal are not in the first tranche of projects to be progressed. The OPW and Cork County Council are working closely to ensure that the programme of flood relief projects identified for Cork County is kept under review, and that all projects will be commenced as soon as possible within the timeframe of the current National Development Plan. The OPW, working closely with its Local Authority Delivery Partners, at all times strives to expedite and progress capital flood relief works with the minimum delay within the resources available to it.

In relation to schemes being progressed in the Cork City area, the status is as follows:

Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme and Morrison’s Island

The Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme (LLFRS) is currently at Planning and Detailed Design stage and it is intended to submit the Scheme for Confirmation to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform later in 2022. While the project budget of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme at Public Exhibition stage was €140m, significant enhancements to the proposed scheme design, resulting from engagement and submissions at Public Exhibition stage, will require this figure to be revised before the submission for Confirmation. Once the Scheme is confirmed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, and following the appointment of Contractors, the Scheme will have an anticipated construction period of 5-6 years.

The estimated cost for the Lower Lee Scheme includes approximately €12m for the Morrison’s Island scheme, which is a Cork City Council-led public realm scheme with flood defence elements part-funded by the OPW. Although the Morrison’s Island project is primarily a public realm project, it will also include the integration of flood defences in the area, and elements of its design are therefore being coordinated with the design of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, and co-funded by the Office of Public Works.

An Bord Pleanála granted approval for the Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project in June 2020. However, in August 2020, the Save Cork City (SCC) Community Association Ltd. applied for, and was granted, leave to take a Judicial Review of An Bord Pleanála’s decision to approve the project. The Judicial Review hearing took place in July 2021 and the High Court upheld the Decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant the planning permission for the proposed development, and refused a stay on the undertaking of any works pursuant to the grant of the planning permission for the proposed development. Accordingly, tender documentation for the procurement of a civil works contractor is being finalised and will issue following the pre-qualification process for the shortlisting of candidates for the tender process, which is currently ongoing.

Blackpool

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform confirmed the Blackpool Flood Relief Scheme, with an estimated cost of €20.5m, in March 2021 and construction was expected to commence in 2022.

In June 2021, the community group, Save Our Bride Otters (SOBO), was granted leave to apply for a Judicial Review of the decision of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to approve the Blackpool Flood Relief Scheme. A stay was also granted on works being carried out pursuant to the Decision, pending the resolution of these proceedings.

The Department of Public Expenditure has agreed to consent to an order reverting the evaluation of the Blackpool Flood Relief scheme back to an advanced stage of further public consultation. In agreeing to this, the Department of Public Expenditure has conceded the matter on a single ground related to public consultation procedures on certain information as part of the confirmation process. The confirmation process for this scheme, including any additional public consultation required, is a matter for the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Office of Public Works will continue to engage with Department for Public Expenditure and Reform as appropriate to further progress the scheme.

The Office of Public Works, along with a multi-disciplinary team, has done extensive work over the last nine years to analyse, assess and model the flood risk in Blackpool, and has considered a wide range of options for managing the significant risk posed to property and people. This work has resulted in the development of the most effective Flood Relief Scheme to provide this community with much-needed protection from extreme flood events, both now and into the future. During the course of the development of the Blackpool (River Bride) Flood Relief Scheme, the OPW also has engaged extensively with the public and other stakeholders. The proposed flood relief scheme is a critically required infrastructural investment in the Blackpool area, which will serve to protect the businesses and people in the area from the ongoing risk of flooding. The Office of Public Works reiterates its commitment to achieving this objective.

Douglas and Togher

The Douglas flood relief scheme (including Togher culvert) is being progressed by Cork County Council and Cork City Council (following boundary extension). In November 2017, planning approval was given by An Bord Pleanála for the Douglas (including Togher culvert) scheme. The scheme is being delivered in three Phases. Construction of the scheme commenced in 2019, with the first two phases now substantially complete. The construction contract was awarded for the final phase, Phase 3 - Togher Main works, in Summer 2021, with the scheme now at construction. The scheme will protect some 231 properties.

Glashaboy River (Glanmire Sallybrook)

The Glashaboy River Flood Relief Scheme at Glanmire / Sallybrook, Cork is being progressed by Cork City Council. This scheme was confirmed on 18th January 2021 by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The scheme will provide protection to some 103 properties. Cork City Council as the Contracting Authority for the project will appoint the civil works contractor. Tenders for the above scheme were invited by Cork City Council on eTenders on 30th September 2021, with the closing date for receipt of tenders of 24th January 2022. The tenders are currently being assessed and it is anticipated that construction of the scheme will commence in Quarter 2, 2022.