Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 March 2015
110. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update with regard to the Skibbereen flood relief scheme in County Cork; the commencement and completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12617/15]
View answer111. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update with regard to the Clonakilty flood relief scheme in County Cork; the commencement and completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12618/15]
View answer112. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update with regard to the Bandon flood relief scheme in County Cork; the commencement and completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12619/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 110 to 112, inclusive, together.
The Bandon Flood Relief Scheme is currently at tender stage for procurement of a civil works contractor. The pre-qualification process to provide a short-list of contractors is completed and tender documents are expected to be issued shortly by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to the applicants who were selected to tender for the project.
The Skibbereen Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Cork County Council as the Contracting Authority for the project, with funding being provided by the OPW. The current position is that the Council has issued tender documents for the procurement of a civil works contractor to those applicants who were short-listed in the pre-qualification process. I understand the tenders are due back in mid April, after which they will be considered by the Council before a Contractor is appointed.
Both the Skibbereen and Bandon Schemes will shortly be submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for Confirmation i.e. statutory approval under the Arterial Drainage Acts. This process includes an independent review of the Environmental Impact Statement for each Scheme. It is hoped that this process will be completed on both Schemes in time to allow Contractors to be appointed in the Autumn of this year. Once a contractor is appointed and construction gets underway, it is expected that it will take approximately two years to complete each Scheme.
In relation to the Clonakilty Flood Relief Scheme, a preferred scheme design option was presented at a statutory Public Exhibition which took place from 15th December 2014 to 20th January 2015. Members of the Public were invited to submit observations on the preferred option by 20th February 2015. All the observations received from concerned parties are currently being considered.
Subject to broad acceptance of the Clonakilty Scheme proposals by the public, detailed design of the Scheme will be undertaken. This will be followed by a procurement process for a civil works contractor and the formal Confirmation of the Scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts. Again subject to successful completion of the tender and Confirmation processes, it is hoped that construction will start in early 2016. The construction programme is expected to take up to 24 months to complete.
The Government remains fully committed to the provision of flood relief schemes for the people of Bandon, Skibbereen and Clonakilty and the OPW has made provision for the cost of implementing these schemes in its financial profiles over the years 2015-2018.
