Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 April 2016
129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress in the Morrell drainage and flood alleviation measures in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7216/16]
View answerKildare County Council (KCC), in consultation with the Office of Public Works (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 order 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 its consultants submitted a Draft Options Report / Feasibility Study to the OPW 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 review of the proposed scheme. The review would investigate if additional or alternative and more cost effective measures could be put in place to alleviate flooding in the area. Any changes identified by the review process would need to be incorporated into the CBA and EIS 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. A meeting of the Steering Group has been scheduled for the 28th April 2016 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. I can confirm that the Lower Morrell scheme remains a priority and the OPW has included provision for the cost of the proposed works in its financial profiles in the period up to 2018.
