Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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97. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of flood relief and river drainage works that the OPW will undertake in County Clare this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5721/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The OPW and Clare County Council are currently progressing five flood relief schemes in County Clare, in Springfield, Shannon, Kilkee, Kilrush and Bunratty.

The schemes are at various stages of development, with the Springfield Flood Relief Scheme at the end of Stage 4 construction, while both the Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme and the Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme are at the latter phase of Stage 1 preliminary design. It is currently envisaged that planning applications for the Kilkee Flood Relief Scheme and the Shannon Town and Environs Flood Relief Scheme will be submitted by Clare County Council to An Bord Pleanála in Q2 2024 and Q3 2024 respectively, as the schemes’ preferred design solutions and associated Environmental Impact Assessment Reports are nearing completion.

In 2024, Clare County Council plans to further progress schemes for Kilrush and Bunratty. To facilitate progression of the Bunratty Flood Relief Scheme, Clare County Council is preparing a tender for a consultant to carry out a feasibility study and to carry out site investigations before moving Stage 1 preliminary design. With regards to the Kilrush Flood Relief Scheme, Clare County Council intend progressing the issuance of tender documents for procurement of technical consultancy services.

Separate to the main flood relief schemes, Clare County Council is managing localised flood and coastal risks through the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Since 2009, the OPW has approved funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme of circa €3.8 million to county Clare for some 41 projects. Works programmed and/or ongoing for 2024 include Gullets Cross Cratloe, Querrin Beach, Mountcashel, Kilmurry, Ballycalla, Newmarket on Fergus, Thomond Villas, Clarecastle Study, and Whitestrand Miltown Malbay.

Regarding the matter of river drainage works, the OPW is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended. Some 2,100km of channel and some 135km of embankments are maintained annually. The OPW Annual Maintenance Programme for 2024 includes maintenance in County Clare on the Creegh, Fergus, Coonagh, Bunratty Rineanna, and Owenogarney Arterial Drainage Schemes.