John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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76. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for progress reports on the Whitechurch flood alleviation scheme and Poddle flood alleviation scheme; when these will be completed and all obstacles to movements in local parks such as St. Enda’s and Tymon removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39993/25]

Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)
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The Whitechurch Stream Flood Alleviation Scheme is being led by South Dublin County Council and the River Poddle Flood Alleviation Scheme is jointly led by South Dublin County Council and Dublin City Council. Funding for both schemes is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and is part of the Government’s commitment of €1.3 billion for the delivery of flood relief measures over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to 2030.

Both schemes are currently at construction, which is being undertaken by the OPW's direct labour force. The Whitechurch Steam Flood Alleviation Scheme commenced construction in Q1 2023 and to date, approximately 44% of the planned works have been completed. It is estimated that the construction works will be substantially complete by Q3 2026. South Dublin County Council have confirmed that while minimal restrictions exist in St Enda’s Park, due to the site compound, these will remain in place until the scheme is completed.

When complete, this scheme will provide flood protection against 1 in 100 year flood event to 52 residential and commercial properties; and will be adaptable to the increased risk from climate change. The Total Project Budget for this scheme is estimated to be some €8.6m, with total expenditure to the end of 2024 of €4.8m. Updates on the progression of the scheme are available on the project's website: www.whitechurchfas.ie/.

The River Poddle Flood Alleviation Scheme commenced construction in Q1 2024 and approximately 43% of the works have been completed to date. It is estimated that the construction works will be substantially complete by the end of Q2 2027.

Works at the newly constructed Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) are expected to be completed in the coming weeks and South Dublin County Council have proposed to re-open access in this area, alongside with the two access gates on Limekiln Road (at Limekiln Avenue) and Limekiln Manor. Some pedestrian routes around the ICW will also be reopened at this time, to allow park users to access the Wellington Lane end of the park from the reopened access gates on Limekiln Road. The area at the Tymon Park lakes will remain restricted to the general public to facilitate manhole and landscaping works along with footpath replacement, which are currently programmed for completion by late August 2025.

When complete, the scheme will provide flood protection against 1 in 100 year flood event to 921 residential and commercial properties; and will be adaptable to the increased risk from climate change. The Total Project Budget for this scheme is estimated at some €21.7m, with total expenditure to the end of 2024 of €4.9m. Updates on the progression of the scheme are available on the scheme's website: www.poddlefas.ie/.