Written answers
Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Flood Risk Management
Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current position of the Blackpool flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52140/23]
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform acts as the competent authority for the confirmation of flood relief schemes submitted under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995 as amended. The process for examining the schemes submitted to my Department is set out under the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019.
In line with the regulations, to ensure that I have access to sufficient expertise to examine these schemes and make a conclusion on the environmental impacts, my Department has contracted independent environmental consultants to carry out the relevant assessments and examination of the proposed River Bride Flood Relief Scheme in Blackpool, Cork.
With regards to an update on the progression of the scheme, in early 2021, the scheme received Ministerial confirmation under Section 7 of the Regulations. This decision was then subject to Judicial Review, during which a stay was also granted on works being carried out pursuant to the confirmation of the scheme, pending the resolution of these proceedings.
In early 2022, my Department conceded the matter on a single ground related to public consultation procedures as part of the confirmation process and consented to an order reverting the evaluation of the Blackpool Flood Relief scheme back to an earlier phase of the process. On foot of the outcome of these proceedings, my Department sought legal advice on matters relevant to the confirmation process. This informed a request for supplementary information which was made to the OPW in February of 2022.
In October 2022, the OPW submitted supplementary information following the request made by my Department. This information has been examined by the environmental consultants and a report has been submitted to me recommending specific areas of the assessments which will require further supplementary information in order to reach a reasoned conclusion on the environmental impacts of the proposed works. Having considered the independent advice received, I have accepted this recommendation and have sought supplementary information from the OPW in accordance with Section 7B(4) of the Regulations.
Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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51. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on OPW planned flood relief works in the Mornington and Bettystown areas of east Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52030/23]
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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There is an existing Flood Relief Scheme in place in Mornington, Co. Meath providing protection to 162 properties. The OPW has a programme of maintenance in place for this scheme.
After the August 2023 flood event in the Mornington/Bettystown area a senior level group involving the OPW and Meath County Council was established to review the event and any additional measures in the Mornington/Bettystown area that may now be required.
To date two meetings have taken place between the OPW, Meath County Council and the engineering consultants RPS. The most recent meeting to review progress to date on the potential flood relief measures for Mornington/Bettystown took place on 26th October and was attended by representatives from the OPW, Meath County Council, RPS consulting engineers and Uisce Éireann. The next meeting is due to be held on the 1stof December.
To inform this group the OPW has instructed RPS to investigate both the cause and magnitude of the flooding events in Mornington in August and again in October of this year. This investigation will inform any appropriate short term measures that can be taken to manage the flood risk in this area and in the longer term the design for those further flood relief defences currently proposed.
The first part of this report for the August event is currently being finalised. An additional part will include the October event and RPS are endeavouring to have an initial draft of this addendum report for the meeting on the 1stof December.
When this work is complete, OPW, MCC and Uisce Éireann will consider the contents of same before identifying any medium or long-term actions.
The following actions have been identified to be undertaken by Meath County Council in the short term:
- Weather conditions and water levels will be monitored on a regular basis and the Council crews will regularly check for blockages at bridges and culverts (and remove as required).
- As a response to any potential future event, Meath County Council will maintain a supply of sandbags on hand to distribute at short notice and continue to provide temporary pumping solutions in some areas.
- Meath County Council are due to commence at the end of November, the removal/trimming of trees in some of the streams in the area. These include the streams to the north and south of the Village Estate which form part of the Mornington Drainage District. When the larger pieces of vegetation that could cause blockages have been removed, any cleaning required will be undertaken.
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