Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 May 2023
36. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when it is proposed to release the Environmental Impact Statement which has now been completed with regard to the Blackpool flood relief scheme, and which is required to be made available for public consultation before the project can proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21897/23]
View answerFollowing the outcome of Judicial Review proceedings regarding the consenting of the River Bride (Blackpool) Flood Relief Scheme, my Department sought supplementary information from the Office of Public Works in February 2022. This request was made under Section 7B(4) of the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019.
The OPW submitted supplementary information to my Department in October 2022 in the form of:
• an addendum to the Environmental Impact Assessment Report,
• an addendum to the Natura Impact Statement and,
• a water body status assessment under the Water Framework Directive.
Each of these assessments are already publicly available and can be found on floodinfo.ie alongside all other environmental assessments carried out on behalf of the OPW in the development of the proposed scheme.
It is my intention to hold a public consultation on the proposed scheme in accordance with Section 7C of the Regulations. It is my intention to open this period of public consultation during Q2 of this year and a notice outlining the details of this consultation will be made available on the Department's website in due course.
