Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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214. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of a project (details supplied); the number of submissions recently received during the public consultation process; the process of assessing these submissions; the next steps in this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5080/21]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the Crossmolina Certified Drainage Scheme, I am advised that the River Deel (Crossmolina) flood defence scheme is being progressed by the Commissioners of Public Works as a scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995.  This is a significant scheme within the Office of Public Works €1 billion flood relief investment programme, and on completion will protect 116 properties in the town.

The Scheme requires formal confirmation from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (MPER) to proceed. This is a statutory requirement under the Arterial Drainage Acts, which now, under the recent European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019, also require the MPER to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the proposed Scheme.  This involves, inter alia, a formal review by MPER of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) prepared by the Commissioners and recently submitted (along with a Natura Impact Statement) to the MPER as part of the formal confirmation process.

The relevant documentation for the River Deel (Crossmolina) Flood Relief Scheme has been submitted to Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). DPER has recently completed the statutory consultation period required in relation to this process , and any relevant observations will be taken into consideration.  As the formal review and assessment process is still ongoing, DPER are not in a position at this stage to disclose to the Office of Public Works the detail on the number of submissions received. However, DPER have advised that they have recently tendered for independent consultancy services to assist them in reviewing both the submissions received, and the substantive material provided by the OPW as required under the ADA consent process. It is their intention to appoint consultants and to begin this independent review process shortly.

While it is not possible to give a construction start date until such time as the scheme is formally confirmed, the OPW and the project consultants are working together to ensure that the construction drawings and other relevant material required to commence construction of the flood relief works will be completed as soon as practicable after the confirmation of the scheme. The overall budget for the scheme is €13.5m, provision for which has been made in the OPW multi Annual Capital Budget.

Once DPER/MPER have completed their review, further information will be provided on the project website, which is available at: