Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018
135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date in respect of drainage and flood prevention works associated with the Morrell River, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12214/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Lower Morell River Flood Management Scheme is being progressed by Kildare County Council (KCC) as the Contracting Authority for the scheme with funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The Lower Morell Scheme was submitted to An Bord Pleanála for approval in September 2017 and was put on display in Kildare County Council offices. It is not possible to indicate when exactly works can commence until the scheme has advanced through the planning process but a decision is expected from An Bord Pleanála in April 2018.
Should approval for the scheme be given, and depending on constraints applied by An Bord Pleanála, it is hoped that construction works would commence this summer and will be carried out over the next three years. Works will be completed by OPW’s own workforce, as a directly managed scheme. The Lower Morell Scheme remains a priority and the OPW has included provision for the cost of the proposed works in its financial profiles in the period up to 2020.
Previously, a programme of flood relief works were carried out on the Morell River by Kildare County Council in 2002 and 2003 under the Local Authority’s powers and were also funded by OPW with construction works completed by OPW direct labour working as agents for the Council.
A flood relief scheme to protect Johnstown Village was also completed by OPW and KCC on the Morell River in 2012, which included works on the Annagall Stream, the Tobenavoher Stream and the Hartwell River.
