Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the up-to-date position on advancing a flood defence relief project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5068/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works working in partnership with Cork County Council are engaging proactively to progress a preferred option for a viable flood relief scheme for Baile Mhuirne/Baile Mhic Íre that will protect 90 properties, 72 residential and 18 commercial, against the 1 in 100-Year flood.

Cork County Council is currently preparing a brief for review and comment by the OPW to tender for an engineering consultant to advance this scheme. The Council has advised that due to resource constraints it now expects a consultant to be appointed to progress this scheme in late 2025. Once consultants are appointed, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the general public, will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of the scheme.

In the interim, Consultant Engineers were commissioned by Cork County Council to complete the design of interim flood relief measures for Ballymakeera and Ballyvourney. The Council has received approval for a total of some €500,000 in funding, under the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, for the provision of interim temporary flood defence measures in this area. The proposed works include a sand bag defence structure, increasing the ground level with ramps and the installation of two non-return valves. The OPW understands that a contractor began work on these interim measures in January 2025, with works now well advanced. Cork County Council estimate these works are to be completed by the end of March 2025.