Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2016
379. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the south Ennis flood relief scheme will commence; to provide the technical issues delaying the scheme; the new anticipated date for finishing the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19254/16]
View answerThe Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Clare County Council (CCC) with funding and advice as appropriate from the Office of Public Works (OPW). CCC will be the contracting authority and as such, the matters of tender and construction dates will ultimately be decided by the Council. Consideration of certain technical aspects of the scheme have taken longer than anticipated and resulted in some delay to the program. These technical matters have related inter alia to the hydrological data and analysis underpinning the proposed design of the scheme, to issues surrounding the proposed design and routing of culverts, to matters to do with the proposed works on the Fergus embankments and to the cost benefit analysis supporting the proposed scheme. I am advised that the OPW will be writing to the Council before the end of July in relation to the approval of funding for the Scheme. Following this, it will be a matter for the Council to progress the scheme through the tender process and construction.
