Flood Relief Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024

Tuesday, 23 April 2024

Questions (50)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

50. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 105 of 8 February 2024, the status of the review by the Coirib go Cósta steering group of the draft revised programme incorporating the additional scope for the Coirib go Cósta flood relief scheme; the timeline for the publication of the revised project programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14381/24]

Oral answers (10 contributions)

Deputy Catherine Connolly

Staying with the same theme, I happen to have two questions. It is good that I can explore the issue a little with the Minister. We have a steering group and I am asking the Minister the status of the review by the steering group, where is it at, when will it be published and when will we see the revised project programme. Let the Minister not say that it will be done shortly..

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

In terms of process, the revised scope, of which the Deputy will be well aware because it is something she has brought up in Question Time previously, includes 940 properties in total, and the Deputy had defined the areas. That is being reviewed by the Coirib go Cósta steering group members and they have reached agreement on the revised scope, subject to agreement on a fee proposal from the consultants. Galway is currently liaising with the consultancy firm Arup on its fee proposal. Once that is agreed, the project programme can be finalised. It is the intention of the project steering group to publish the updated project programme to the project website - this is the word they have given me - shortly. However, I am giving a commitment to the Deputy to go back to get it finalised as quickly as possible.

The process is there. The final piece of the jigsaw is to agree a revised fee proposal with the consultants. Once that happens, they can finalise the project programme and publish it on the website. In my capacity as Minister of State with responsibility for OPW, I undertake to proactively follow-up on this and look to have it in place as quickly as I possibly can.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that he is going to take a personal interest and is giving a commitment. However, there is flooding practically every year in Galway. That has been known about for a very long time. Following the mapping situation, we were into the action. The action was set out, as I said. I do not like repeating myself or wasting time, but this is extremely important for Galway. There were five stages set out. We need the people on board because, quite clearly, these will be significant works that will have many implications. We need the people on board. To that end, we had a number of consultations promised. Only one consultation has taken place. There was an informal one lately with no details for elected members. That was held in the middle of the week when no TD could attend it.

We are in a situation now where all of it has been pushed forward, a new sum of money, €50 million, has been identified-----

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

That is the estimate as of now.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

As of now, and that could change, just like the waters can change, up or down. That is where we are. I will not go over my time.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

I understand the Deputy's frustration. It is something I will follow-up on. She is very familiar with the scheme and she made reference to the areas it covers. It covers the quay walls and will extend from the dock and continue along the long walk to Spanish Arch. Properties in the Claddagh area, along with Grattan Road and Fr. Griffin would be provided protection by the construction of a quay wall along the Claddagh Basin and Nimmo's Pier. Flood defences along the property line of localised land and road-rising at Salthill will manage wave over-topping risk.

There are potentially a number of intersecting projects at varying stages from concept to completion, including the Salthill cycle scheme and the western greenway, which may possibly interact with the Coirib go Cósta - Galway city - flood relief scheme. Ultimately, the flood relief scheme is paramount. We will continue to liaise with Galway City Council and its consultants, as appropriate, with a view to maximise any mutual benefits. For me, the commitment I give here today is that I will follow-up as to where it is at in the process to get it published on the website as quickly as I possibly can.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

I thank the Minister of State. He said that I am very familiar with the scheme. Unfortunately, I am not. I am very familiar with the floods. I am very familiar with the promises. I am very familiar with the targets not being met. That is what I am familiar with.

I am not here to lay blame. I am here to try to find out what is going on. Have enough resources been given to the local authority so that it can employ the expertise?

I am a little concerned that the Minister of State is talking about a fee for the extra work - not that the consultants should not be paid. Why is that not all sorted out or did I misunderstand the Minister of State say something about negotiations over a fee for the extra scope?

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

Yes, consultants.

Deputy Catherine Connolly

That should all be sorted out. I have a library full of replies. The 940 properties did not appear yesterday. They are appearing in all my questions and answers since I started this process of asking the Minister of State. I have to face the people, as all TDs, including the Minister of State, must, while their houses are flooded, there is a major problem with insurance and there is a huge difficulty with the sale of the houses. All of the time, there is no practical information on a website to say that something has changed and this is what we are doing.

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell

On the information that the Deputy is looking at in terms of the revised scope, Galway City Council is currently liaising with the consultants on its fee proposal. As I said, once that is agreed, the project programme can be finalised and then the project steering group will publish the updated programme to the project website shortly thereafter. What I am saying, in my capacity as Minister with responsibility for OPW, is I undertake to give the Deputy a commitment that I personally will follow-up on it to look that this will happen because that is a key element of the process.

Question No. 51 taken with Written Answers.