Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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267. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 97 of 4 October 2022, if he will provide a further update on the selection of a contractor for the Glashaboy flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52707/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Glashaboy River Flood Relief Scheme at Glanmire / Sallybrook, Cork is being progressed by Cork City Council. The Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with Cork City Council are engaging proactively to progress the flood relief scheme for Glanmire.

The Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme was confirmed in January 2021 by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 to 1995. The scheme is being funded from the €1.3 billion in flood relief measures under the National Development Plan to 2030, and as part of Project Ireland 2040. Provision for the total project budget for this scheme is included in the Office of Public Works multi annual capital allocation.

The Glashaboy River Flood Relief Scheme will protect 103 properties from a significant risk of flooding.

The scheme is currently at Stage 3, detailed design. The tender documentation for the procurement and appointment of a contractor was issued in September 2021 with a return date of 24^thJanuary 2022. Unfortunately, Cork City Council was not in a position to appoint a Contractor for the works on foot of this procurement process. However, Cork City Council is proceeding towards issuing updated Tender Documents in Q4 2022 for works to commence in Spring 2023 and is working with key project partners to minimise the overall delay in the completion of these works.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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268. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when it is expected that the Judicial Review ongoing as part of the Blackpool flood relief will conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52708/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform confirmed the River Bride (Blackpool) Flood Relief Scheme, under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, as amended, in March 2021, and construction was expected to commence in early 2022.

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

Following an extensive legal review of the grounds of the Judicial Review, and the statutory processes around the decision-making process, the Department of Public Expenditure and reform has agreed to consent to an order reverting the evaluation of the River Bride (Blackpool) Flood Relief scheme back to an advanced stage of further public consultation. In agreeing to this, DPER has conceded the matter on a single ground related to public consultation procedures on certain information as part of the confirmation process.

Following this decision, further information was requested by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as part of the environmental impact assessment. The Office of Public Works provided this further information on 13 October 2022, which will now be subject to a further public consultation in relation to the scheme.

The confirmation process for the scheme is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Subject to confirmation procurement for a contractor for the works will commence.