Thomas Gould
Question:80. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Blackpool flood relief scheme. [11049/21]
View answerThursday, 25 February 2021
Questions (80, 82)
Colm Burke
Question:82. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current status of the Blackpool flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10765/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 82 together.
The Blackpool Flood Relief Scheme commenced in 2013 when the Office of Public Works, in conjunction with Cork City Council, appointed consultants to develop proposals to deal with the flood risk that existed in Cork City. Following extensive engineering and environmental analysis, public consultation, and a formal Public Exhibition, the proposed scheme for Blackpool was submitted to the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform for Ministerial Confirmation.
The Scheme and the associated environmental assessments have been reviewed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as part of the Confirmation process under the Arterial Drainage Acts as required following the transposition into Irish law of EU Directive 2014/EU/52 by way of the European Union (Environmental Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019. The Department has written to the OPW on the process outlining the conditions under which the scheme may be Confirmed by the Minister under the Arterial Drainage Acts. That correspondence is currently being considered by the OPW and a reply will issue shortly. Should the Minister subsequently Confirm the Scheme, a tender competition will then be held to appoint a works contractor, which should lead to a contractor being appointed before the end of the year to undertake the first phase of works.