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Flood Prevention Measures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 December 2020

Wednesday, 9 December 2020

Questions (62, 68, 69, 70)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

62. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a written or informal agreement between Cork City Council councillors or the executive and the OPW in respect of the Morrison’s Island public realm project and related flood defence works. [42256/20]

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Neasa Hourigan

Question:

68. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if preparatory or design phase works on the Morrison’s Island public realm project and related flood defence works went through a tender process that was fully open to new applicants. [42262/20]

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Neasa Hourigan

Question:

69. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current and previous contractual relationship that exist between the Office of Public Works and the specialist consultants and architects involved in preparing method statements and technical drawings for the planning application for the Morrison’s Island flood works project. [42263/20]

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Neasa Hourigan

Question:

70. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a written or informal agreement between Cork City Council councillors or the executive and the OPW in respect of any future flood defence works in Cork city. [42264/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 68, 69 and 70 together.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) and Cork City Council have worked closely and collaboratively since the commencement of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme in 2013. Both organisations, along with Cork County Council, are represented on the project Steering Committee, which was formed at the inception of the project. While this Steering Committee provides the formal arrangement for cooperation between the OPW and Cork City Council, as well as other parties involved in the Project, the development of a formal agreement is to be progressed and put in place before the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme is Confirmed under the Arterial Drainage Acts.

During the course of the development of the Flood Relief Scheme, the City Council commenced the Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project. This project is aimed at bringing a comprehensive regeneration of this historic area through extensive public realm improvements that includes some flood defence elements.

The wider Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme already had a strong focus on public realm and conservation, and the design team has built up relevant skillsets in these areas for the Cork City area.  Given this, and the proposal to implement some flood defence elements into the Morrison’s Island Project, the Steering Group considered that it would be an appropriate, cost-effective and expeditious approach for the same design team to lead on the design of Cork City Council’s Morrison’s Island Public Realm Project, including the preparation of method statements and technical drawings. OPW supported this arrangement and a Collateral Warranty was put in place between the three parties. A formal agreement on the proportionate funding of the project will be finalised once the project budgeting is complete.

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