Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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431. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the OPW Jamestown Road workshop, its current utilisation and future utilisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16089/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The property at Jamestown Road, Dublin, comprising an area of 7.1 acres, is currently used by the Office of Public Works (OPW) as a Building Maintenance Services (BMS) Metalworks Workshop and for the storage of furniture, archaeological salvage and events items.  The property is registered to the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland (CPW).

In 2006, the ownership of the site was transferred to Dublin City Council (DCC) with a view to developing it for social and affordable housing.  Following the completion of site investigations, the housing development did not take place.  This was primarily due to ground conditions on the site arising from its historic use as an engineering workshop; and the site subsequently reverted to the Commissioners of Public Works in 2018.  The OPW's operations continued on the site throughout the change of ownership.

More recently, the site has been identified for inclusion in a significant housing development by the Land Development Agency (LDA) of the lands around the site.  Discussions are ongoing between the OPW and the LDA as well as with the other semi-State owners of the adjacent lands.  The future long-term development plans will require advance re-location of the OPW operations currently on the site.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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432. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update with respect to a claim made by a business (details supplied) in County Cork to the OPW following flood damages in February 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16505/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Office of Public Works commenced construction of the Fermoy North flood relief scheme in 2009, and the scheme was completed in 2011. The Scheme comprises grass embankments, permanent walls and demountable flood barriers, and pumping stations, and is designed to protect 77 properties on the north side of Fermoy against the 1-in-100-year flood event. Damages avoided in such an event are in the order of €18m.

Cork Co. Council carries out the Operation and Maintenance of the Fermoy North scheme on behalf of the Office Public Works (OPW), the Contracting Authority. An OPW-developed Flood Early Warning System (FEWS), which is used for both the towns of Fermoy and Mallow, is operated by Cork County Council staff in Mallow. Upon receipt of a flood warning, Local Authority staff erect the substantial demountable defences on the completed scheme on the north side of Fermoy.

The flood event which occurred in Fermoy on the morning of the 24th February 2021 led to three properties flooding at Brian Ború Square and flooding of the Town Park area, although no properties flooded there.

The Office of Public Works has received claims for compensation from those whose businesses or premises experienced flooding in Fermoy on 24th February 2021. The claims are currently under consideration.