Flood Risk Management

Thursday, 19 January 2023

Questions (159)

Colm Burke

Question:

159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current position of the Blackpool flood relief scheme; when work will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1916/23]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

I am advised that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform confirmed the River Bride (Blackpool) Flood Relief Scheme in March 2021 under Section 7 of the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, as amended. In June 2021, the community group, Save Our Bride Otters (SOBO), was granted leave to apply for a Judicial Review of this decision of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. A stay was also granted on works being carried out pursuant to this Ministerial decision, pending the resolution of these proceedings.

Following an extensive legal review of the grounds of the Judicial Review, and the statutory processes around the decision-making process, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform agreed to consent to an order reverting the evaluation of the Blackpool Flood Relief Scheme back to an advanced stage of further public consultation. In agreeing to this, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform conceded the matter on a single ground related to public consultation procedures on certain information as part of the confirmation process.

Following this decision, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform submitted a Request for Further Information to the OPW on foot of the issues raised in the Judicial Review and to which OPW responded on 13 October 2022.

The confirmation process for this scheme, including any additional public consultation required, is a matter for the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Office of Public Works will continue to engage with Department for Public Expenditure and Reform as appropriate to further progress the scheme. Subject to receipt of confirmation the procurement process for a contractor will follow in 2023 with the works to commence shortly after.