Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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118. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the OPW drew up plans for the repair of a bridge in treacherous condition in County Mayo (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5655/23]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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119. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans that the OPW has for a bridge in County Mayo (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5656/23]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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120. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW will carry out much-needed urgent works on a bridge (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that this bridge is in treacherous condition and is a health and safety risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5663/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 to 120, inclusive, together.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) carries out maintenance to approximately two thousand kilometres of channels, and on average two hundred structures throughout the country, as part of the annual Arterial Drainage maintenance programme.  While the average cycle of maintenance is generally in the range of four to seven years, the OPW routinely inspects all channels and structures that it has maintenance responsibility for.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and changes in staffing, the OPW had to re-organise elements of the maintenance programme.  The bridge is an existing foot bridge constructed during the Moy Arterial Drainage Scheme, and has been scheduled for the installation of parapet railings to the required standards to provide edge protection to users. The OPW has continued to monitor the bridge and would deem that the bridge has low current usage.

The works will be carried out as part of our 2023 bridge maintenance programme. Staff from the OPW will contact the landowner to arrange access to his property to install the parapet railings.