Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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140. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the flood relief scheme for Enniscorthy, County Wexford. [37867/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In March 2020, the Enniscorthy Food Defence Scheme (“the Scheme”) was submitted by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to the Minister for Public Expenditure, NPD Delivery and Reform for statutory confirmation, under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. The main elements of the proposed Scheme included construction of flood defence walls, river channel widening and deepening, construction of a new road bridge over the River Slaney, and construction of a new pedestrian bridge to replace the removal of the existing Seamus Rafter Bridge. In March 2022 the Minister for Public Expenditure, NPD Delivery and Reform made a decision to refuse this Scheme under Section 7E(1)(B) of the Arterial Drainage Act.

Since March 2022 there has been extensive engagement between the OPW and Wexford County Council (WCC), who are the contracting authority for the Scheme. In Q4 2023, WCC submitted a proposed strategy for the progression of the Scheme to the OPW. The proposed strategy, which was approved by the OPW, comprises two phases for the delivery of the Scheme (i.e. Phase 1 Bridgeworks and Phase 2 Flood Relief Works).

Phase 1 of the Scheme will include the construction of the new River Slaney Bridge, the construction of a new pedestrian bridge and the removal of the Seamus Rafter Bridge, which poses an obstruction to river flow through the town centre during flood events. Phase 2 of the Scheme will include the construction of the remaining flood relief measures for Enniscorthy town.

The Project Steering Group is currently progressing design options for Phase 1 and it is envisaged that a planning application will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála (“the Board”) in Q3 2025. To facilitate a submission to the Board, the relevant environmental surveys are currently being updated and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and a Natura Impact Statement will be prepared. Additionally, a public consultation will take place in the coming months. With regards to Phase 2 of the Scheme, WCC and the OPW are currently finalising a Project Brief in order to issue a tender for the appointment of a consultant. The Project Brief is in its final stages of development and it is expected to go to tender in Q4 2024. Once a consultant is appointed, the design options for Phase 2 will be progressed.

The OPW and WCC remain committed to the progression of this Scheme, which currently has an approved total project budget of approximately €51m, which will be funded under the Government’s €1.3bn for flood relief measures under the National Development Plan to 2030.