Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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275. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the OPW’s investigation into the Ballincollig Weir. [11527/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Ballincollig Weir is on the River Lee and is adjacent to the Regional Park in Ballincollig.  The original weir was built in the 1790’s in order to divert water to the Gunpowder Mills, but appears to have had work carried out in more modern times.  The weir had apparently been in disrepair for many years before a breach occurred in December 2014, which has left the weir in extremely poor condition.

Since the City Boundary change in June 2019, ownership of the Ballincollig Regional Park and the weir is now under the remit of Cork City Council.  While there are no hydraulic benefits to the flood relief scheme from the weir, the OPW has agreed to assess the feasibility of incorporating any remedial works to the weir into the construction contract and budget for the proposed Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme (LLFRS).

The nature of any such remedial works will be subject to an assessment of planning, structural, fisheries and cultural heritage considerations, which the Lower Lee FRS Steering Group has asked the Flood Relief Scheme design consultants, contracted by the OPW, to review.  The final scope of this review is currently being finalised by the OPW and Cork City Council.