Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
431. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the development of the south Mayo flood relief scheme; if the OPW has concluded its consideration of the feasibility report carried out by Mayo County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30765/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Full details of this scheme are available on www.opw.ie.
Mayo County Council carried out a Feasibility Report (funded by the Office of Public Works) in September of last year. This report estimated the cost of addressing the issues here at €6.4m with the majority of the benefits coming from the protection of road infrastructure, thus identifying a potential role for the Department of Transport. The capital cost is now well in excess of the €750,000 ceiling for Minor Flood Mitigation Works.
As the report indicated that the majority of the benefits from the proposed scheme would be to roads and access, Mayo County Council were advised in February this year to develop a joint proposal for the scheme with the Department of Transport and to subsequently meet with OPW to review the joint proposal.
On the 9th June 2022, the Minister met with a delegation of local stakeholders and representatives of Mayo County Council to discuss the flooding issues relating to the Neale. As part of this discussion, the Minister outlined that the protection of transport infrastructure, which is one of the main drivers of this proposed scheme, is not within the remit of the Office of Public Works. A multi-agency discussion, with stakeholders including the Department of Transport, Mayo County Council and the Office of Public Works, is now needed.
This will be convened by the Office of Public Works once the review of the feasibility report is complete.
