Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 March 2018
211. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied that due regard has been given to the economic effect of works in a populated area of significant economic, heritage and tourism related activity in relation to identifying the proposed OPW flood relief scheme for Cork city as the optimum solution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13579/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra212. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the OPW plans to further consult with the public following the design change in relation to the proposed OPW flood relief scheme for Cork city, in view of the fact that a city wide groundwater pumping system is now proposed in addition to flood relief walls and levies previously advertised to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13580/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the OPW's assessment of the tidal barrier proposal put forward by a campaign (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13581/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 213, inclusive, together.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has developed the proposed flood relief scheme for Cork City and upstream to Inniscarra Dam following 11 years of detailed scientific and engineering study and design which has been carried out with the benefit of ongoing and regular public consultation with the general public and other key stakeholders. The need for the project is beyond question as the City in particular suffers from regular flooding from both fluvial and tidal flood events with particularly severe events affecting the City in 2009, 2014 and the winter of 2015/16. The scheme has been brought through the formal Public Exhibition or statutory consultation process as required under the Arterial Drainage Acts and detailed reports were put into the public domain at the completion of that phase of the project in December 2017. These reports (see www.lowerleefrs.ie) deal comprehensively with the issues raised during the above consultative process and set out categorically how the proposed scheme is the only viable solution to the flooding problem in the city.
Among the detailed reports completed during the Exhibition stage is one dealing with the option of constructing a tidal barrier. The proposal of a tidal barrier put forward by others was considered in depth and is found to be unworkable for cost, navigational and environmental reasons as well as lacking upstream storage capacity in the likely future climate change scenario. It is, however, technically possible to construct a barrier elsewhere, at either side of Great Island, but the estimated whole life cost of this of up to €1.7 billion also makes it a non-viable option. In light of the in-depth analysis on the tidal barrier option for Cork carried out by international experts, the position is that a tidal barrier is not a viable solution for Cork and cannot be considered further.
Like other similar projects, the scheme for Cork City as exhibited includes a drainage system to cater for both surface water drainage and groundwater behind the flood defences. The pumping element will only be required to operate during periods of extremely high river levels, for short durations around high tide. For the majority of the time, the gravity drainage system will operate as at present and the normal groundwater regime will not be altered. Detailed design is currently ongoing to finalise the finer detail of the drainage system, but what is proposed does not differ in principle from the scheme exhibited. The published Exhibition Reports deal with the groundwater aspects of the scheme.
During the development of the scheme, the OPW and its partners, Cork City and County Councils, were acutely conscious of the need to avoid disruption to the city during construction works. So while there will be some disruption during construction, it will be minimised by careful phasing of the works, traffic management including noise and dust management. Works will also be co-ordinated in conjunction with Cork City Council to mitigate the overall duration of any disruption. It is OPW’s view that the permanent economic benefits of the scheme in protecting businesses and attracting new business to the city will significantly exceed any short-term economic impacts arising during the construction phase.
