Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
217. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update from the Office of Public Works regarding its plans and works to prepare for floods along the River Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41560/23]
View answerThe Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW to increase its work on flood relief schemes to over 90 schemes at design and construction at this time.
There are 13 completed schemes in the Shannon River Basin District, which provide protection to over 2,600 properties.
There are 24 schemes currently being progressed. These include:
• Two schemes, Athlone and Springfield, which are currently at construction, with Springfield expected to reach substantial completion in 2023 and Athlone expected to reach substantial completion in 2024;
• A further 13 schemes where engineering consultants have been appointed, including King’s Island which will go to tender shortly for a Contractor for the scheme, with construction anticipated to commence in 2024; and
• 9 other small schemes, 8 of which will be progressed directly by the relevant Local Authorities, with full funding from the OPW, and one scheme, Rahan which OPW Design Section is progressing.
There are a further 12 schemes recommended in the Flood Risk Management Plans that are planned to be rolled out as part of the second Tranche of flood relief schemes, which will commence in the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2018-2030.
