Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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310. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current status of works on the weir at Ballincollig Regional Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31818/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently considering the matter of Ballincollig Weir in the context of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme.

The Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme is the largest flood relief scheme in the state, which is being progressed directly by the OPW. It encompasses an area from Inniscarra Hydroelectric plant to the Port of Cork, some 16 kilometres away. The Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme is expected to provide protection against the 100-year fluvial flooding event from the River Lee and the 200-year tidal flooding event for 2,100 properties, including 900 residential and 1,200 commercial, at an estimated cost of over €200 million.

Ballincollig Weir on the River Lee has been in disrepair for many years before a breach occurred in December 2014, that left the weir in poor condition. While there are no hydraulic benefits to the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme from the Ballincollig Weir, the OPW has committed to assessing the feasibility of repairing Ballincollig Weir and incorporating the repair works into the construction contract and budget for the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, if appropriate.

The OPW commissioned the consultants for the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme to undertake a preliminary feasibility assessment and constraints study for any viable reinstatement of the Ballincollig Weir and a draft report was produced in May 2024. To facilitate finalisation of the report, the OPW is engaging with Cork City Council (“the Council”) as owners of Ballincollig Weir. The OPW is currently reviewing the feedback received from the Council to inform a decision on how to proceed with works on the Ballincollig Weir.