Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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33. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the proposed Crossmolina flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22088/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The latest position regarding the proposed River Deel Flood Relief Scheme in Crossmolina is unchanged from the update provided to the House on 9th May 2023. The Office of Public Works has sought consent for the scheme in accordance with the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019. 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.

On foot of receiving further information, 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.