Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

147. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of all current and proposed flood relief schemes in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1920/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To date the Office of Public Works has built flood relief schemes that are providing protection to some 1,700 properties at Ennis and Sixmilebridge.

OPW is currently undertaking five additional major flood relief schemes in County Clare as part of the Government's €1.3bn investment in flood relief under the National Development Plan to 2030. The details of schemes at design and construction to protect against significant flood risk are as follows.

Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme

The Office and Public Works (OPW) and Clare County Council are working together on the development of the Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme with Clare County Council acting as the Contracting Authority for the project and funding provided by the OPW. The Consultant engineers for the scheme are RPS.

The total project budget is €41m and the scheme is expected to protect 1,237 residential and 163 commercial properties once complete. Current spend on the scheme to date is €1.3m

The Shannon Town and Environs flood relief scheme is currently at Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design where options are being prepared and are expected to be finalised in the coming months. It is expected to move to Stage 2 Planning in Q2 2024.

Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme

The Office and Public Works (OPW) and Clare County Council are working together on the development of the Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme with Clare County Council acting as the Contracting Authority for the project and funding provided by the OPW. The Consultant engineers for the scheme are JBA Consulting.

The total project budget is €4.4m and the scheme is expected to protect 194 residential properties. Current spend on the scheme to date is €570,000.

The proposed Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme is currently at Stage I: Scheme Development and Preliminary Design. A public participation day was held on Thursday 18 August 2022 with members of the public, local businesses, and other interested parties attending and submitting comments and making their views known on the scheme’s emerging options. Information gathered through this public engagement will be used to inform the final options for the scheme. It is expected to move to Stage 2 Planning in Q3 2023.

Springfield Flood Relief Scheme

The Office and Public Works (OPW) and Clare County Council are working together on the development of the Springfield Flood Relief Scheme with Clare County Council acting as the Contracting Authority for the project and funding provided by the OPW. The Consultant engineers for the scheme are Byrne Looby.

The Springfield Flood Relief Scheme is currently at Stage IV: Construction and includes the construction of a flood protection embankment, land raising, penstock / sluice, pump station and associated works at the townland and surrounding areas of Springfield and Clonlara. Total spend to date on this scheme is some €3m and the scheme will protect 18 properties.

The Springfield flood relief scheme is near completion. Permanent pumps for the scheme are yet to be installed due to a delay in manufacture and delivery. These pumps have since been delivered to the OPW and will be installed by end of Q1 when weather permits. Temporary pumps are currently in place to allow the scheme be operational and provide protection.

Bunratty Flood Relief Scheme

The Bunratty flood relief scheme is currently being progressed by Clare County Council. Clare County Council is preparing to tender for a consultant to carry out a feasibility study and to carry out site investigations before moving to the next stage of the project.

The scheme is expected to cost €760,000.

Kilrush Flood Relief Scheme

The Kilrush flood relief scheme is currently being progressed by Clare County Council. Clare County Council is currently carrying out underground surveys before moving to the next stage of the project.

The scheme is expected to cost €170,000 and will protect 19 properties once complete.

Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme

The OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme provides funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies, costing less than €750,000 each, to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. Since its introduction in 2009, the Office of Public Works has approved €4.1m to Clare County Council under this scheme for 57 localised flood risk and coastal protection works.