Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 November 2013
72. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the funding and construction of a new flood relief scheme for a town (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51196/13]
View answerUnder the South West Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study currently being undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with Cork County Council, Clonakilty was identified as a significant flood risk area for further assessment. Following severe flooding in Clonakilty in June 2012, the CFRAM work for the town was accelerated to assess the risk and develop a potentially viable flood relief scheme as a matter of priority. In July 2013, the outcomes of the accelerated work, namely flood maps and a preferred Scheme option, were presented to the public. The preferred Scheme option for Clonakilty includes:
- Flood-water storage in an embanked storage area upstream of Clonakilty to reduce fluvial flood risk, and,
- On-land flood defences to reduce coastal flood risk.
The OPW is currently in the process of procuring consultants to develop the design and assist with the implementation of a Scheme for the town. Tenders are due in shortly on this and it is expected that consultants will be appointed early in 2014. Stage one of the consultant's contract will be to further assess the outcome of the CFRAM Study and to bring a viable, cost-effective and sustainable scheme forward to public exhibition later in the year. Subject to such a scheme being acceptable after this public consultation stage it will then be taken forward to detailed design and construction.
Provision for funding the design and development work on the Scheme and the construction works has been made in the OPW's multi-annual capital works programme.
