Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
330. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Minister of State at his Department or the Office of Public Works have yet convened a meeting with the Department of Transport and Mayo County Council in relation to funding the South Mayo flood relief scheme that is urgently needed; if not, when this meeting will be convened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39040/22]
View answerLocal flooding and coastal erosion issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. Where necessary, Local Authorities may put forward proposals to relevant central Government Departments, including the Office of Public Works, for funding of appropriate measures depending on the infrastructure or assets under threat.
Under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Full details of this scheme are available on www.opw.ie.
Mayo County Council carried out a Feasibility Report (funded by the Office of Public Works) in September of last year. This report estimated the cost of addressing the issues here at €6.4m with the majority of the benefits coming from the protection of road infrastructure, thus identifying a potential role for the Department of Transport. The capital cost is now well in excess of the €750,000 ceiling for Minor Flood Mitigation Works.
As the report indicated that the majority of the benefits from the proposed scheme would be to roads and access, Mayo County Council were advised in February this year to develop a joint proposal for the scheme with the Department of Transport and to subsequently meet with OPW to review the joint proposal.
On the 9th June 2022, the Minister met with a delegation of local stakeholders and representatives of Mayo County Council to discuss the flooding issues relating to the Neale. It was agreed that Mayo County Council will finalise the feasibility review report, include options assessment and forward to the OPW. The OPW will review this feasibility report. Following that review, the OPW will convene a meeting with Mayo Co. Co, Dept of Transport and the OPW to discuss possible funding options for a scheme for this area, given the majority of benefits are to roads and road access. The Minister indicated that the outcome of that meeting will inform what scheme can be progressed. This will be convened by the Office of Public Works once the review of the feasibility report is complete.
