Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2022
98. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the selection of a contractor for the Glashaboy flood relief scheme; the length of time that he envisages this process will take; if he will give assurances that selection will be completed as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31073/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI ask for an update on the selection of a contract for the Glashaboy flood relief scheme, the length of time the process will take and an assurance it will be done as quickly as possible.
The Glashaboy River flood relief scheme at Glanmire and Sallybrook in Cork is being progressed by Cork City Council. The Office of Public Works, OPW, in partnership with the council is engaging proactively to progress the flood relief scheme for Glanmire.
The scheme was confirmed in January 2021 by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy McGrath, 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, as part of Project Ireland 2040. Provision for the total project budget for this scheme is included in the Office of Public Works multi-annual capital allocation to the Department. The Office of Government Procurement inflation and supply chain delay co-operation framework agreement, published on 20 May 2022, will help address the appropriate inflationary costs.
The Glashaboy flood relief scheme will protect approximately 100 properties from a significant risk of flooding in the area. There is currently a procurement process under way, to which the Deputy alluded, to appoint a contractor for the scheme. As the procurement process is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for me as Minister of State to make any further comments at present. I expect the procurement process will be completed in the coming weeks.
The Minister of State is fully aware of the long history of flooding in Glanmire, as is the Minister who met with residents a few years ago. There were flooding events in 2009, 2012 and 2015. In 2012, approximately 51 residences and 42 commercial premises were affected by flooding that cost tens of millions in damage. We were delighted when, in 2021, the Minister of State and the Minister confirmed the scheme would progress. I believe it was one of the first schemes approved by their Department but, unfortunately, it seems to be one of the first that will fall foul of the inflation we are suffering.
I understand Cork City Council is working with the OPW to try to progress the scheme. Cork City Council is seeking a number of legal clarifications in the event the successful contractor drops out. Will the Minister of State allude to what discussions or legal clarifications the city council is looking for? I ask him to give a general progress update, if he can, on where we go if the contractor has dropped out.
The Deputy is right. This scheme was the first to be approved under the new arterial drainage regulations, which came into force in 2019. It is important to state on behalf of the Department that Cork City Council, as the Deputy said, is the lead authority in this and is the negotiating authority in the appointment of a contractor, which is commercially sensitive and confidential. I am precluded from uttering anything that would in any way interfere in that, other than to say the Office of Public Works is committed to working with Cork City Council to try to form a resolution around this.
The council has also taken guidance from the Office of Government Procurement in respect of the appointment of a contractor, which is normal in the appointment of contractors at this scale, because this is not an insignificant number of properties, when we look at the areas that will be covered. These include an industrial estate at Sallybrook, shopping centres, housing estates, and Glanmire village itself towards John O'Callaghan Park. The Deputy has raised this matter previously, as have other Members, including Deputy Colm Burke. The OPW is unwavering in its commitment to Cork City Council to move this forward.
I know the Minister shares my disappointment, and that of Deputy Burke, as he mentioned, about the way the scheme has progressed until now in respect of the possible withdrawal of the contractor. The Minister of State cannot specifically comment on that while the process is live but, generally speaking, in the event that an appointed contractor withdraws from the process, which I believe is the case, is the normal process to revisit the existing tender list that went out? Will the Minister of State clarify that?
As I said, it is disappointing for the residents and businesses in the area, especially when in other parts of the country and in other parts of Cork city we see OPW schemes and flood relief schemes being halted or slowing down for various reasons. This is a scheme that is ready to go. It would be a shame to see it delayed any further.
Regarding the Government's commitment to the council as the lead authority, I wish to make it clear that the Office of Public Works is committed to this scheme. There are residents, traders and representatives who are anxious, but the scheme has planning permission and is ready to go. Any commercial discussion around the appointment of a contractor is a matter for the council, which will receive guidance from the Office of Government Procurement. The council has also been in discussions with our officials. We hope that the issues around the appointment of a contractor by Cork City Council can be resolved in the coming weeks. We will then be in a position to move the scheme forward and support it financially.
