Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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91. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide a full update on the proposed main flood scheme at Ballinhassig, County Cork; the current stage of the project; and to provide clarification on the remaining stages and estimated timelines. [27808/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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Through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme, the largest study of flood risk was completed by the Office of Public Works, in 2018. Since 2018, and working with local authorities, the OPW has trebled, to some 100, the number of flood relief schemes at design and construction. Ballinhassig Flood Relief Scheme is funded by the OPW from the Government's €1.3bn investment in flood measures under the National Development Plan to 2030. The current estimated Project Budget for the scheme is approximately €2.3m.

Cork County Council with funding from the Office of Public Works, for nine staff to project manage the delivery of flood projects across the county, is leading the delivery of the Ballinhassig Flood Relief Scheme and appointed engineering consultants to the scheme in January 2024.

The Ballinhassig Flood Relief Scheme is currently at the first of five stages to scheme completion. Stage 1, focuses on the scheme's development and preliminary design. At this time the preferred option for the scheme has been identified and work is ongoing on environmental screening and reports. Subject to an assessment of the preferred options against economic, environmental and technical criteria it is expected that a planning route will be identified in Q3 2025.

Thereafter and subject to successful planning application it is anticipated that the scheme could reach substantial completion in 2027 providing protection to eight residential properties which experience flooding from the Owenabue River.