Written Answers Nos. 350-369
350. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if section 14 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 applies to him and requires him, upon request, to attend the Joint Committee of Environment and Climate Action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47583/23]
View answerSection 14A (2) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 stipulates that each Minister of the Government shall, in each year after the publication of the Climate Change Advisory Council's annual report and the Environmental Protection Agency’s report, at the written request of a joint committee, attend before the committee to give account of the matters specified in subsection (3).
Subsection (3) of the Act outlines that each Minister of the Government shall, in relation to the sector for which the Minister of Government has responsibility, give an account, for the period of the annual report, of the following matters:
1. sector specific progress under the most recent approved climate action plan, including the policies and measures that have been adopted and any significant failure to implement such policies and measures, or to achieve sector specific targets;
2. whether there has been a reduction or increase in greenhouse gas emissions based on the Agency’s reports;
3. compliance with the sectoral emissions ceiling and any measures envisaged to address any failure to so comply;
4. the implementation of adaptation policy measures and any adaptation policy measures envisaged, where a sectoral adaptation plan has been prepared.
On 28 July 2022, Government agreed the initial allocation of Ministerial responsibilities for the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings. No sectoral emissions ceiling was assigned to the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. While I do have a joint coordinating role across various Departments within the Public Sector, the Minister the Environment, Climate and Communications is the Minister with responsibility for this sector, and for reporting on progress as outlined above.
However, as advised to the Chair of the Committee, in recognition of the important role of my Department in supporting the achievement of the Government’s objectives in the area of climate action more generally, I am eager to assist the work of the joint committee to the fullest extent possible. I have already provided updates on the key areas the committee wishes to discuss, and am currently in the process of identifying a suitable date to attend the Joint Committee.
351. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has received a request to attend the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action; when he plans to attend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47584/23]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, I acknowledge the important role I and my Department have to play in the achievement of Government’s objectives in the area of climate action, and I am keen to engage with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment and Climate Action on this role. I received an invitation in October 2023 to a meeting of the Committee later this year, at which the Committee wishes to discuss its review of the Climate Action Plan 2023 following the publication of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s annual review in July. I plan to attend, and I look forward to engaging with the Committee as requested.
However, on the date suggested, I will be unable to attend due to other pre-existing commitments. My office has been in contact with the Committee and is engaging to find a mutually agreeable date for this proposed meeting.
352. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of statements of interests for the purposes of section 19 filed by his special advisers in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will provide a schedule of same. [47652/23]
View answerSince taking up my role as Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on 17 December 2022 I have received two Statements of Interests for the purposes of Section 19 from my special advisers. Furthermore, and in accordance with Section 19, my special advisers have also sent their Statements of Interests to the Standards in Public Office Commission.
353. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when works to an embankment (details supplied) in County Kerry will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47688/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended.
The location in question forms part of the Maine Arterial Drainage Scheme. The OPW has raised and strengthened several kilometres of flood defence embankments protecting this polder. The South West Region Office monitor the location and intend to carry out further works to raise the remaining section of embankment and to address the seepage issue as soon as possible.
354. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide a complete list of all buildings owned by the State or any of the State agencies across Dún Laoghaire, Rathdown; and the occupancy rates and status of each. [47698/23]
View answerThe table gives details of buildings in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW) in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area. The OPW does not hold details of buildings in the ownership of other State bodies.
The day-to-day utilisation of these buildings is managed by the occupants.
|
Building Name |
Address |
Eircode |
Occupier/Use |
|
Security Hut British Embassy Residence |
Stradbrook Road, Blackrock, County Dublin |
D04 P272 |
Security Hut |
|
Blackrock Garda Station - Dublin |
Sweetman Avenue, Blackrock, County Dublin |
A94 X660 |
Garda Station |
|
Clonskeagh (Ipa) |
Milltown Road, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14 |
D06 WN80 |
Office |
|
Clonskeagh Square |
Unit A2 Block1 Clonskeagh Square, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14 |
D14 H424 |
Environmental Protection Agency |
|
Dalkey Former Garda Station |
6 Sorrento Road, Dalkey, County Dublin |
A96 K5P2 |
Alternative State use being examined. |
|
Crofton House Dún Laoghaire |
Crofton House, Crofton Road, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin |
A96 E5A0 |
Coastguard, BIM |
|
Sandycove Martello Tower |
Sandycove, County Dublin |
A96 FX33 |
Heritage |
|
Dún Laoghaire Social Welfare Office + Fas |
18-21 Cumberland Street, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin |
A96 T209 |
Department of Social Protection |
|
Dún Laoghaire Garda Station |
Corrig Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin |
A96 N299 |
Garda Station |
|
Dún Laoghaire Courthouse |
Corrig Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin |
A96 N299 |
Courts Service |
|
Dundrum Garda Station + Courthouse |
Kilmacud Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14 |
D14 NA09 |
Garda Station |
|
Dundrum Former Central Mental Hospital - The Chapel |
Dundrum Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14 |
D14 W0V6 |
Intra State transfer to the Land Development Agency |
|
Kill O' The Grange Former Garda Station |
Rochestown Avenue, Kill O The Grange, County Dublin |
A96 V621 |
Intra State transfer to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. |
|
Security Hut Canadian Embassy |
Killiney, County Dublin |
A96 |
Security Hut |
|
Loughlinstown House |
Loughlinstown, County Dublin |
D18 KP65 |
Euro Foundation |
|
Rathfarnham Castle |
Rathfarnham |
D14 K3T6 |
Heritage |
|
Rathfarnham Garda Station |
Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 |
D14 A584 |
Garda Station |
|
Pearse Museum + Park |
Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 |
D16 Y7Y5 |
Museum/Restaurant/Park/Caretaker Hse |
|
Shankill Garda Station |
Shankill, Shankhill, County Dublin |
D18 CD50 |
Garda Station |
|
Stepaside Garda Station |
Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, County Dublin |
D18 T206 |
Garda Station |
355. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if a start date has been agreed for the commencement of remedial works on Cairn T, at the Loughcrew heritage site near Oldcastle, County Meath; the plan and schedule for the re-opening of Cairn T to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47709/23]
View answerOPW held constructive meetings on site with the National Monuments Service of the Department for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to agree details of the continued structural supports that will be needed to safeguard Cairn T.
OPW’s Structural engineers are finalising detailed plans regarding permanent structural support work to replace the temporary prop currently in situ. It is expected this work will commence early 2024.
A Conservation Management Plan for Loughcrew is being commissioned as part of the long-term preservation efforts for this site.
356. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide a breakdown of the advertising spend of his Department and agencies under the remit of his Department, by national media outlet and local newspaper outlet, for each of the years 2020 to 2022, in tabular form. [47737/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that a deferred reply will be issued to him in respect of this Parliamentary Question, in line with Standing Order 51(1)(b).
357. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will expedite a scheme in County Cork by the OPW under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme (CFRAM) in County Cork (details supplied); if such area has been designated with Tranche 2 status under the scheme; if he will acknowledge that there is now an urgent necessity to bring forward these schemes owing to the events following Storm Babet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47773/23]
View answer358. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will liaise with a relevant local authority, the Office of Public Works and other relevant stakeholders to carry out the necessary appropriate screening assessments with respect to a stream (details supplied) in County Cork which bursts it banks during Storm Babet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47774/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together.
The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme – Ireland’s largest study of flood risk – was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two-thirds of the population against their risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. An output of the CFRAM Programme, the Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans provide the evidence for a proactive approach for designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities. The delivery of these Plans is supported by €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan 2021–2030 (NDP).
To date, 53 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 12,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €1.9 billion.
The Plans identified an additional 150 flood relief schemes. The investment has allowed the OPW to treble the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning, and construction to some 100 schemes. Developing these schemes is relying upon very specialised engineering resources available in the country.
The proposed project for Rathcormac is not in the first phase of projects to be progressed as part of the national programme of schemes. The proposed flood relief scheme at Rathcormac consists of the diversion of flood flows from the Kilbrien Stream via a culvert to the Shanowen River and will protect 31 properties when completed.
The OPW, working closely with its Local Authority, at all times strives to expedite and progress capital flood relief works with the minimum delay within the resources, including the specialised engineering resources, available to it.
Once consultants are appointed to progress this scheme, consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies, as well as the general public, will take place at the appropriate stages to ensure that all parties have the opportunity to input into the development of the scheme.
Cork County Council have advised that it is currently assessing, with a view to implementation, if any interim temporary measures can be put in place that may provide some benefit in Rathcormac.
359. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department has considered any proposals for flood relief works at Ballinhassig, Cork; and, if not, whether he will now consider same. [47779/23]
View answerThe Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme – Ireland’s largest study of flood risk – was completed by the Office of Public Works in 2018. This studied the flood risk for two-thirds of the population against their risk of flooding from rivers and the sea. An output of the CFRAM Programme, the Government’s Flood Risk Management Plans provide the evidence for a proactive approach for designing and constructing flood relief schemes for the most at-risk communities. The delivery of these Plans is supported by €1.3 billion through the National Development Plan 2021–2030 (NDP).
To date, 53 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 12,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €1.9 billion.
The Plans identified an additional 150 flood relief schemes. The investment has allowed the OPW to treble the number of flood relief schemes at design, planning, and construction to some 100 schemes. Developing these schemes is relying upon, very specialised engineering resources available in the country.
The OPW in partnership with Cork County Council are progressing a flood relief scheme to protect a number of residential properties in Ballinhassig, which have suffered flooding from the Owenabue River. A tender competition for a Consultancy Contract to provide engineering and environmental services to progress the Ballinhassig Flood Relief Scheme was first issued in late 2022. Tenders were received in Q1 2023. Following tender assessment, and discussions between Cork County Council and the OPW, as there was no tender submission which offered a value for money proposal, it was agreed that it was not possible to appoint a consultant for the project at that time. Cork County Council then worked in partnership with the OPW to adjust the requirements for the Consultancy Contract, in an effort to find a solution to provide professional services to deliver the Contract. The Consultancy Contract was retendered in Q3 2023, and it is planned to appoint a Consultant by the end of November 2023.
Cork County Council working in partnership with the OPW, with the assistance of the Consultant appointed, will work together to progress the scheme as expediently as possible.
360. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the amount allocated to the Standards in Public Office Commission in the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and under budget 2024. [47787/23]
View answerThe Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) is funded as part of the Vote for the Office of the Ombudsman. The Office of the Ombudsman vote comprises of six separate statutory bodies which are supported in their work by a Corporate Spine consisting of ICT staff, legal and HR support as well as facilities, communications, governance, procurement and finance staff. As with the majority of votes, accounting for expenditure is done on an ‘output programme’ basis.
The Office of the Ombudsman Vote received an increase of 7% under Budget 2024 in recognition of the increased demand for the important work carried out by the bodies under the Vote. The table below outlines the overall allocation to Vote 19- Office of the Ombudsman for each of the years in question.
|
Allocation |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Vote 19 – Office of the Ombudsman Overall Vote Allocation |
11,597 |
12,174 |
12,321 |
12,644 |
12,793 |
13,897 |
14,898 |
*Figures are gross allocations in €’000s per Revised Estimates, with the exception of 2024 which is the Budget 2024 figure.
The Office of the Ombudsman has informed me that the activities of SIPO represent one of the programmes making up the overall vote (i.e. Programme B). (The others are: Programme A: Ombudsman, Office of Protected Disclosures Commissioner and Commission for Public Service Appointments; and, Programme C: Office of the Information Commissioner and Commissioner for Environmental Information).
The breakdown of the overall funding made available to Vote 19 by each Programme for relevant year is set out below.
|
- |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Programme A - Ombudsman Function / Office of The Commission for Public Service Appointments / Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner |
6,327 |
6,648 |
7,089 |
7,164 |
7,435 |
8,287 |
9,813 |
|
Programme B - Standards in Public Office Commission |
2,073 |
2,234 |
1,893 |
1,964 |
1,992 |
2,086 |
1,765 |
|
Programme C- Office of the Information Commissioner/ Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information |
3,197 |
3,292 |
3,339 |
3,516 |
3,366 |
3,524 |
3,320 |
|
Vote 19 – Office of the Ombudsman Overall Vote Allocation |
11,597 |
12,174 |
12,321 |
12,644 |
12,793 |
13,897 |
14,898 |
*Figures are gross allocations in €000's as per Revised Estimates, with the exception of 2024 which is the Budget 2024 figure.
It should be noted that the figures provided for Programme B (SIPO) do not include any element of the cost associated with the staffing of the Corporate Spine of the organisation. The associated staff costs are borne in full by the Ombudsman Programme A (which also includes the Ombudsman’s salary and travel costs, the salaries of the Director General and Private Secretary). It should be noted that a significant element of the in-house Legal Services Unit’s work concerns SIPO related business and, as outlined above, such related staffing costs are not reflected in the Programme B (SIPO) figures.
Direct expenses of SIPO activity are charged directly to Programme B (SIPO). This includes payroll costs of staff assigned full-time to SIPO activities. Other direct costs include external legal representation costs for cases pursued by SIPO; consultancy costs; travel costs for SIPO staff and members; report design and printing. Apportionment of costs between programmes A, B and C is undertaken for shared expenses (non-pay related) e.g. incidental expenses, cleaning, utilities, office machinery and is therefore reflected in Programme B.
It should be further noted that a capacity review of the SIPO staffing resources was conducted during the course of 2022. Arising from this review, the Office re-profiled an element of the pay budget in Budget 2024, from Programme B to Programme A, to balance staffing costs within the various programmes of the Ombudsman vote.
361. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the funding available to Monaghan County Council for flood relief projects under budget 2024. [47788/23]
View answerThe Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are 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, in partnership with local authorities throughout the country, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning and construction to some 98 schemes at this time. In the last 5 years (2018 - 2022), the OPW has invested some €300 million in flood relief expenditure.
To date, 53 schemes have been completed, which are providing protection to over 12,000 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damage and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €1.9 billion. Consequently, work to protect 80% of all at-risk properties nationally is completed or underway.
In early 2023, senior managers in OPW’s Flood Risk Management team met and discussed with Directors of Service of local authorities the experiences and challenges with delivering the flood relief schemes at design, planning and construction. The discussion also considered the opportunities to improve efficiencies and timelines with delivering the next round of schemes.
Arising from and informed by these meetings, the OPW is piloting a new delivery model for flood relief schemes in counties Donegal and Kilkenny. The Pilot will better inform the prioritisation of future schemes nationally and the scope of services required from consultants to design and construct flood relief schemes.
There are three Tranche II Flood Relief Schemes in County Monaghan: Ballybay, Inishkeen, and Monaghan. There is a funding commitment for these projects as part of the National Development Plan and, informed by the results of the pilot, they will be progressed as part of the Tranche II suite of flood relief schemes.
In addition to the flood relief schemes noted above, the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme provides funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation or coastal protection works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. This scheme provides 90% funding to local authorities to manage localised flood risk.
To date, nationally and since 2009, my Office has approved 876 projects under this scheme and funding of €63m. The total approved funding for County Monaghan in that same time period is €2.5m. This is a very significant and important scheme for managing localised flooding problems, and both my Office and I encourage local authorities to avail of the funding under the scheme to address such localised flooding issues.
362. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the engagements his Department, or any agency or body under his direction, has had with the Government of Israel, any state body of the Government of Israel, or any engagement within or with Israel, in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47812/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that neither my Department nor any of the bodies under its aegis have had any engagement of the nature specified.
363. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the engagements his Department, or any agency or body under his direction, has had with the Palestinian Authority, any organ of the Palestinian Authority, or any engagement within, or with organisations in, the occupied Palestinian territory, in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47830/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out below:
• Officials from the Public Service Transformation Division of my Department gave a presentation remotely to public officials in the Palestinian Authority following a request from the OECD in December 2022. The presentation was part of a training event under an EU-funded project that the MENA-OECD Governance Programme is implementing in the Palestinian Authority;
• The Government Chief Information Officer (CIO) was part of an Irish delegation invited by the Jordanian Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship to speak at the Middle East & North Africa ICT Forum 2022 (MENA ICT Forum 2022) in November 2022. At that event, he was introduced to staff from the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Empowerment, Palestine. That office contacted the Government CIO in January of this year asking if he would facilitate a discussion on the structure and role of Government in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Ireland, especially in innovation driven entrepreneurship. This meeting was held in February 2023, with valuable input provided by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Enterprise Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs were in attendance; and
• The Department’s Human Resources Strategy Unit accepted an invitation from the OECD to present to the Palestinian General Personnel Council on the topic of civil service reform on 30 January, 2023. The title of the remote presentation was “Performance Management in the Irish Civil Service”.
364. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 15 November 2022, if he will provide an update in relation to the commitment to undertake an examination of the legislative landscape, including a review of the current regulatory environment underpinning the members of the Shannon Flood Risk State Co-ordination Working Group and the consideration of the legal analysis that was, at that point, being carried out. [47900/23]
View answerIn 2016, the Government established the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working Group to improve coordination between all state agencies involved with the River Shannon to maximise flood risk mitigation. In addition you will be aware that there is a comprehensive OPW led programme to deliver flood relief schemes for communities the length of the Shannon, with Schemes in Athlone and Sprinfield nearing completion.
I would like to reassure you that the preparation of legislation to improve the management of flood risk on the River Shannon is a Government priority. The management of flood risk on the river is closely intertwined with other uses of the river such as for navigation, dam safety and electricity generation, legislative powers for which are vested in the members of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Group. As part of the preparation of legislation, the OPW has conducted an analysis of existing legislation regarding the management of the River Shannon, including a review of the powers of various bodies involved with the river. This analysis has informed the ongoing work and the OPW is finalising legislative options for consideration.
365. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the Office of Public Works own the river and costal banks it maintains; if there is a public right of access on these banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47929/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended.
The OPW arterial drainage maintenance programme comprises 11,500km of river channel and 800km of embankments. The embankments are not in State ownership but are on lands that are, for the most part, privately owned.
The responsibility for the condition of the channel and riverbank typically rests with the riparian owner who has an important role in ensuring that watercourses are managed and free flowing so that in extreme weather events the risk of flooding can be minimised. A guide to the rights and responsibilities of landowners is available online at www.flooding.ie
366. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the final public consultation on the Blackpool flood relief scheme will take place; what format it will take, particularly in light of recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47942/23]
View answerMy Department has engaged independent environmental consultants to examine the environmental assessments undertaken by the Office of Public Works in order to reach a reasoned conclusion on the environmental impacts of the scheme in accordance with the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019.
These examinations are currently being progressed. It is a requirement under the Regulations to hold a period of public consultation for such a scheme. The timing of this consultation will be determined on the basis of advice received having regard for the wider confirmation process.
367. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department engages a company (details supplied); if so, the duration and nature of the work; the cost of same to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48017/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department currently has no contracts in place with the company in question.
The Deputy may wish to note that this company is on a number of procurement frameworks established by the Office of Government Procurement, which is a Division in my Department.
368. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform whether a house (details supplied) will be covered by the Glashaboy flood relief scheme. [48081/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) in partnership with Cork City Council are engaging proactively to progress the Glashaboy flood relief scheme for Glanmire.
The Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme was confirmed in January 2021 by the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 to 1995. The scheme is being funded from the €1.3 billion in flood relief measures under the National Development Plan to 2030, and as part of Project Ireland 2040.
The scheme, when complete, will provide flood protection to some 103 properties; 78 residential properties and 25 commercial premises and will address the flood risk in a number of locations in the Glanmire area. The scheme will include defences, such as walls and embankments; culvert upgrades; channel widening and road re-grading.
In April 2023, Cork City Council, following a successful tender competition, awarded the civil works contract to Sorensen Civil Engineering. In July 2023 Sorensen Civil Engineering mobilised on site carrying out site investigation works, working with utility providers to agree diversions and engaging with stakeholders with works commencing on site at Cúil Chluthair and Springmount.
The construction programme is anticipated to take 32 months with the works split up into several Zones to minimise disruption to the public and businesses.
Following the events of Storm Babet, the design team will examine the proposed works throughout the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme to consider whether there are any additional short term or other interventions that can be beneficially proposed in addition to the approved works.
With respect to the deputy’s specific query I wish to advise this information is not readily available and we will revert to the Deputy in due course.
369. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW has plans to review or alter the flood risk management plan that covers Ashbrook in Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48113/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW), through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, carried out the largest ever flood risk study in Ireland to date, which assessed 80% of properties at risk from Ireland’s main causes of flooding. It should be noted that CFRAM was a high level assessment of the areas deemed to be at risk of flooding. The OPW Flood Maps, that show the flood risk for 300 communities, are a key output of the study together with 29 Flood Risk Management Plans, with the proposed flood relief measures to address the flood risk in each community.
The Limerick City & Environs Flood Relief Scheme (FRS) is currently at Stage 1 (Scheme Development and Preliminary Design). The area to be protected by this scheme includes Ashbrook and any flood risk in this area will be identified. As part of the project a more detailed mapping of the flood risk is being undertaken by the consultant and once this mapping has been completed it will be published.
It is estimated that the full Limerick City & Environs Scheme will protect some 1,120 residential properties and 243 commercial properties.
