Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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106. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the flood relief scheme in Bantry, County Cork. [56220/22]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Flood Risk Management Plans launched in May 2018 included a recommendation to progress the design, planning and construction of a flood relief scheme for Bantry. A Steering Group, comprising of representatives from the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Cork County Council, is in place to progress this Flood Relief Scheme protecting some 198 properties.

In February 2022 I visited Bantry to announce the appointment of J.B. Barry and Partners Ltd., in joint venture with JBA Consulting Ltd., by Cork County Council as engineering and environmental consultants to carry out the design of a viable scheme for the town. The scheme development and design is progressing with environmental surveys and hydrological modelling continuing in the area. The Site Investigation Contractor has now been appointed and site investigation work will commence on site in the coming weeks. This will help to both inform the options for a major flood relief scheme for Bantry as well as the separate works being planned by Cork County Council to upgrade the Bantry Mill Culvert.

Consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the public, will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of the scheme. A project website is available at www.bantryfrs.ie. A number of Public Participation Days will be held throughout the delivery stages of the project, the first of which was held on 18th May 2022, with the second due to take place in Q2 2023.

In tandem with progressing this scheme, Cork County Council is progressing the repair and re-construction in Bantry of a culvert on Main Street, the Mill Culvert Upgrade Project. An application for a Section 50 has been submitted by Cork County Council to the OPW for approval. The OPW is reviewing this request and once approval for the Section 50 is granted, a tender by Cork County Council for Consultancy Services for the detailed design and construction of the culvert will be advertised. The 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 are liaising on the integration of these works with the flood relief scheme for the town.

Under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme my office approved a total of €183,917 in funding to Cork County Council for interim works to mitigate flooding in Bantry. The installation of non-return valves on gullies and the storm pipe non-return valves have been completed and sandbags have been purchased for deployment in case of forecasted extreme weather events.

Separately, Cork County Council are working on developing an Individual Property Protection Scheme for Bantry. Expressions of interest for the scheme were requested, with positive responses received. Surveys of a proportion of the properties which would benefit from Individual Property Protection have been undertaken. These surveys need to be completed before issuing agreements for signing to all interested property owners. Once this has been completed an application for further funding under the OPW Minor Works scheme can be applied for.