Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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105. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the flood relief schemes in Cork north central, including the Blackpool flood relief scheme and the Morrison’s Island flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4982/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) are proactively progressing with a number of flood defence schemes in the Cork North Central area in partnership with Cork City Council.

During the course of the development of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, it was agreed between the OPW and Cork City Council that the Council would progress the Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project in advance of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme. This project is intended to deliver a comprehensive regeneration to this historic area through extensive public realm improvements that include flood defence works. Defences at Morrison’s Quay and Father Matthew Quay will protect large areas of Central Island from tidal flooding and will protect some 410 properties at flood risk during an extreme tidal event. The Morrison’s Island Project is currently at construction and due to be substantially complete by the summer of 2026.

Cork City Council, the lead authority, for the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme, that is at construction, has advised that flood defence works will continue across multiple locations in Glanmire, Riverstown and Sallybrook throughout 2025. The scheme, when complete, will provide flood protection to some 103 properties and will address the flood risk in a number of locations in the Glanmire area. The construction is estimated to take 32 months from commencement and expected to be substantially complete in the first half of 2026.

The Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, which is the largest scheme in the state, is designed to protect some 2,100 properties at risk from flooding. The scheme is currently scheduled to go to Statutory Public Exhibition in late 2025 and estimated to be submitted for Confirmation to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation in mid-2026, under the Arterial Drainage Acts.

The OPW is progressing the Blackpool Flood Relief Scheme and is currently updating the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) for the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation following a request for further information, to inform a statutory confirmation Ministerial decision under the Arterial Drainage Acts. The Blackpool Flood Relief Scheme, when complete, will protect some 290 properties currently at risk from flooding.

The Douglas/Togher Flood Relief Scheme, which was led by Cork City Council in partnership with OPW, was completed in 2022 and is providing protection for some 221 properties.