Skip to main content
Normal View

Drainage Schemes Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2016

Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Questions (245)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which funding will be made available to facilitate the various and ongoing flood alleviation and drainage proposals throughout County Kildare, with particular regard to the beneficial impact of the work to date and the need for a satisfactory conclusion of the programme as put forward by Kildare County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1267/16]

View answer

Written answers

I am advised that there are no specific outstanding flood alleviation/drainage proposals submitted by Kildare Co. Council that request funding by the Office of Public Works (OPW) at this time, other than the proposed Lower Morrell River Flood Relief Scheme, of which, the Deputy is aware. However, the OPW and KCC continue to work in close consultation on the development of the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) plans for areas of Kildare designated as Areas for Further Assessment or AFAs under the East CFRAM study. Those plans, due to be completed in mid 2016, will identify preferred options for flood alleviation measures as necessary. The implementation of these measures will be considered in due course by the OPW and KCC. The Government's Capital Investment Plan 2016 – 2021 includes total funding of €430m over the period of the Plan for the cost of implementing the schemes and measures that will emerge from the CFRAM process.

As the Deputy is aware, KCC, in consultation with the OPW, engaged Consulting Engineers to carry out a Full Feasibility Study, Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Lower Morrell River and the surrounding River Catchment in an effort to resolve the outstanding localised flooding issues in the Straffan area. A Steering Group which comprises representatives of KCC, OPW and the consultants, was set up to advance the project.

KCC and their consultants submitted a Draft Options Report /Feasibility Study to the OPW outlining possible flood relief measures for the Lower Morrell River Catchment in 2014. Following consideration of the draft report by the OPW, it was agreed by the Steering Group that the consultants would carry out a more detailed review of the proposed scheme with further analysis of the various options considered to assess the benefits of the current works proposals as they have evolved. The review would also investigate if there are additional or alternative and more cost effective measures that can be put in place to alleviate flooding in the area. Any changes identified by the review process would need to be incorporated into the Cost Benefit Analysis and Environmental Impact Statement before the scheme can be advanced.

I am advised that the consultants have completed the review process and KCC has submitted their findings to the OPW for consideration. The OPW and KCC will meet later this month with a view to finalising the Feasibility Report. Once the Feasibility Report has been finalised, and provided the scheme is still economically and environmentally viable, KCC and the OPW will decide on how best to advance the proposed works. The OPW has included provision for the cost of the proposed works in its financial profiles in the period up to 2018.

Top
Share