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Flood Risk Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2022

Thursday, 28 April 2022

Questions (90)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

90. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 91 of 1 March 2022, the status of the Coirib go Cósta flood relief works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20080/22]

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Oral answers (8 contributions)

My question is specific. I am asking for the status of the flood relief works that have huge significance and importance for Galway city generally and particularly for the residential and business areas such as in the Claddagh, where I live, Salthill, the Long Walk, Spanish Arch, Eglinton Canal and Merchants Road. Those areas have experienced serious flooding. I am asking for an update on the status of the works because this is significantly important for Galway and we need to ensure there are no delays.

I will answer this question on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan. I am advised that further to the Deputy’s previous questions on this matter, Galway City Council, as project sponsor and contracting authority, is leading the development of the Coirib go Cósta – Galway city flood relief scheme, with technical advice and funding being provided by the Office of Public Works.

The objective of the Coirib go Cósta project is to assess, design and deliver a viable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable flood relief scheme, which has a preliminary total project budget estimate of €9.5 million and when complete will protect more than 940 properties in the Long Walk, Spanish Arch, Eglinton Canal, Merchants Quay, Raven Terrace, Salthill and Claddagh areas of Galway city from tidal and river flooding.

The scheme is in stage 1 and the preliminary draft options for the scheme are programmed to be presented to the general public towards the end of this year. It is programmed that stage 2 will begin towards the end of 2023, with the scheme expected to be submitted for planning approval to An Bord Pleanála in the third quarter of 2024, following the completion of all environmental assessments.

The scheme represents a significant investment for Galway city, which will be undertaken with due consideration for regulatory, planning, environmental and social constraints, while achieving the goal of delivering a viable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable flood relief scheme for Galway city.

I have tabled previous questions and I will continue to do so because this is of such vital importance to the city. I do not disagree that this is to process, design and deliver a viable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable flood relief scheme. Nobody would argue with that. However, my difficulty with this is in terms of some of the comments that have been made, including by the Minister of State, who is not here, in regard to the term "objectors". In my experience of local politics, I have no difficulty with people making submissions under the planning laws. I do not call them objectors. On various occasions the courts have highlighted that without lay people taking part in the planning process, the situation would be much worse. There is a public consultation process. Unfortunately, because of Covid, the first meeting was held online and had poor attendance. Has any analysis been done into that? Second, will the Minister of State provide an assurance that the next consultation will be held face-to-face?

The Deputy's first question is whether there has been an analysis of the public consultation to date, which she believes was poorly attended as a result of it being carried out during the pandemic. I will seek an answer from the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, for her about that. The other question is whether there will be further consultations and whether those consultations will be held face-to-face rather than online. I know there will be further consultations as part of the process. Some of those are statutory and others are non-statutory in nature. All the legal and required procedures will, of course, be carried out. I will come back to the Deputy with a detailed response on when the next round of consultation will be held and what form it will be.

It is not me noting this; it was reported on the website that the consultation had low numbers. If we have learned anything about residents' concerns, it is to take them seriously and to have a forum where they are heard and to work with them. We cannot have delays with this.

On the other hand, there has to be balance with what we are dealing with, which is the Eglinton Canal and the Claddagh basin that have been there since 1852 when the canal was opened by Lord Eglinton. It is of particular heritage significance, not to mention for other reasons. I am appealing that, from day one, we stop the misuse of the word "objectors" and that we look on this as a project that is vital to Galway, done in a sustainable way, bringing people on board. How do we do that? How do we learn and bring people on board, inform and empower them? I am one of those people. I am a resident of the Claddagh that is affected. I have seen the place flooded. Fortunately, my house was not flooded but many others were. People want something done, but they want it done in a way that is - you know the lovely words we have used - "sustainable" and "environmentally friendly". That has to be done in consultation with the people at every step of the way.

During a public consultation, objections are not made. Submissions and observations are made.

They are called objections.

There can be positive and negative elements to them. There can be suggestions for how a scheme can be improved. It is a positive process. It is legally required but even if it were not, it improves schemes in a number of different ways. It is not only about bringing people with us and it is not just about persuading people that this is a good scheme; it is about going out to people who live in that local area or to people who have specific knowledge, whether that is technical knowledge, expertise and professional knowledge, or just local knowledge from those living there who know the areas that flood and so on. It is getting that included, with the engineers, so that we get a better scheme that actually lasts. When we talk about sustainability, that is just a word for something that will last a long time. If we are doing a flood scheme that will take the better part of a decade to complete, we certainly want it to last for many decades into the future. It is a stronger scheme with public consultation and that is why we have such consultation.

Question No. 91 replied to with Written Answers.
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