Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when flood defence construction works will advance for an Sulán River, Ballymakeera, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56470/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with Cork County Council are engaging proactively to progress a preferred option for a viable flood relief scheme for Ballymakeera/Ballyvourney that will protect 90 properties from significant risk of flooding.

To date the assessments and data that has been produced by the OPW has brought the project to the latter stages of Stage One, Scheme Development and Preliminary Design. There are some elements that are required to close out Stage One for agreement with all relevant stakeholders of a final preferred option. The OPW is engaging with Cork County Council to identify the steps to identify a viable option and to meets the terms of the Water Framework Directive.

Construction of the scheme will be informed by planning permissions that are sought for a preferred option. The Ballymakeera/Ballyvourney Flood Relief Scheme is being funded from €1.3 billion allocated by the Government for flood risk management under the National Development Plan to 2030.

In the interim, Cork County Council has been approved for funding of €187,248 in October 2018 under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This funding is for the provision of temporary flood defence measures, including sand bag defence structure, increasing of ground levels with ramps and the installation of 2 non-return valves.

Malachy Walsh and Partners (MWP) Consulting Engineers have been commissioned by Cork County Council to complete the design of the temporary flood relief measures in Ballyvourney. This work is now well under way and a design is expected to be ready before the end of this year and the intention is to go to tender for construction shortly thereafter.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of spend by the OPW on the Crossmolina flood relief scheme since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56394/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In October 2020, the Office of Public Works (OPW) submitted the documentation for confirmation for the Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, under the Arterial Drainage Act of 1945, as amended. As part of this process, the Department sought and the OPW provided it with supplementary information in July 2021.

The Department advised that a further Public Consultation would be appropriate, to include this supplementary information, and held that consultation between 6 May and 1 July 2022.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has engaged consultants to examine the submissions received under the public consultation process resulting from the supplementary information provided to them during the Confirmation process. This work is ongoing and upon completion, the Minister will take into account all relevant information as prescribed in the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, as amended and make a decision on whether to confirm the scheme in accordance with Section 7E(1).

Work on this scheme started in 2012. Spend to date is €1.7m and €1.6m of this is since 2015 for the design of the scheme and the associated environmental assessments. This also includes costs of consultants, surveys and site investigations.

The OPW remain committed to constructing a flood relief scheme for Crossmolina that can protect 106 properties.

In addition, Mayo County Council has drawn down some €230,000 under the OPW's Minor Works and Coastal Protection Scheme since 2009, to provide some localised flood solutions. These works include reconstructing walls, purchase of pumps, removal of shrubbery and installation of flood gates.