Thomas Gould
Question:481. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of plans for the Ballincollig Weir. [40821/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 July 2022
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Ballincollig Weir, which as part of Ballincollig Regional Park, is in the ownership of Cork City Council since the boundary change between Cork County and City in June 2019. I am aware that the Weir had apparently been in disrepair for many years before a breach occurred in December 2014, which has left the weir in extremely poor condition.
In June of last year, I met with the Lord Mayor of Cork City, along with members of Cork City Council and City Council Officials, to confirm OPW’s commitment to incorporate remedial works to the weir into the construction contract and budget for the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, if appropriate. While there are no hydraulic benefits to the flood relief scheme from the weir, the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme Steering Group has agreed to assess the feasibility of incorporating any remedial works to the weir into the construction contract and budget for the proposed Scheme.
The nature of any such remedial works will be subject to an assessment of planning, structural, fisheries and cultural heritage considerations, which the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme Steering Group asked the Scheme’s design consultants, contracted by the OPW, to review. The consultants’ proposal to undertake a preliminary feasibility assessment and constraints study for the reinstatement of Ballincollig Weir is being finalised at present.