Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

241. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the environmental assessments will be completed in relation to the River Deel flood relief scheme; when he will confirm the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21140/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Details of the environmental impact assessments carried out by the OPW in relation to the River Deel Flood Relief Scheme can be found on the floodinfo.ie website. The scheme has been submitted to my Department seeking consent for these works under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 to 1995 as amended.

An initial round of public consultation was held beginning on the 1st December 2020 and concluding on the 11th January 2021. Following this period of public consultation, my Department sought additional information regarding the scheme from the Office of Public Works. The OPW provided this information to my Department in July 2021.

A further period of public consultation was then required and this took place over the period from the 6th May 2022 to the 1st July 2022. My Department has retained independent environmental consultants to review the submissions received during the consultation and to carry out any necessary environmental assessments as required by EU Directives 2011/92 and 2014/52.

Section 7E(4) of the regulations provides that I have access to sufficient expertise to examine an environmental impact assessment report submitted by OPW. In light of this requirement, independent consultants have been appointed to provide this expertise.

My Department has been advised by the independent consultants that this work is due to be completed in the coming weeks. On completion, I expect to receive a recommendation on whether to confirm the scheme in accordance with Section 7E(1) of the Regulations. It is my expectation that I will receive this recommendation in Q2 of this year. Under Section 7E(1) of the Regulations it is open to me to:

(a) make an order confirming the scheme,

(b) refuse to confirm the scheme, or

(c) refer the scheme back to the Commissioners of Public Works for revision in specified respects.

Any decision made under Section 7E(1) will be published on the Department's website as required under Section 7F(1)(a) of the Regulations.