Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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90. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 23 April 2024, for an update on the engagement between the steering group and the consultants regarding the fee proposal for the Coirib go Cósta project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19531/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme was the largest study of flood risk in the country, studying the flood risk for some two thirds of the population.

Following this CFRAM assessment and study, Galway City Council appointed consultant engineers in November 2020 to design a detailed option to protect the city from a significant flood event in the future.

During this time, it has become apparent that the scale of flooding risk in Galway City is greater than identified in the strategic CFRAM study. The process of redefining the scope for the Coirib go Cósta - Galway City - Flood Relief Scheme, which is at Stage 1 Scheme Development and Preliminary Design, has taken longer than first envisaged due to the need to complete some coastal assessments, that did not form part of the CFRAM Programme; and the complexity and increase in scale of the Scheme, identified by the assessment of hydrology and hydraulic modelling for the City.

A draft revised scope reflecting additional works for the scheme has been presented by the scheme’s consultants to Galway City Council, the Lead Authority for the scheme. To give a context to the increase in scale of the programme, the scheme was originally to protect some 312 properties, whereas today the scheme is being designed to protect some 940 properties, three times more.

This revised scope has been reviewed by the Coirib go Cósta Steering Group members and agreement has been reached on the revised scope, subject to agreement on a fee proposal from the consultant.

Galway City Council is currently liaising with the consultant on its fee proposal, and is awaiting a response from the consultant regarding comments submitted by Galway City Council and the OPW. It is currently envisaged that Galway City Council will receive a response this week. Subject to consideration of the response received, Galway City Council intend making an application to the OPW, as the Approving Authority, for approval of fees.

Once the fee proposal is agreed, the project programme can be finalised and it is the intention of the project Steering Group to publish the updated project programme to the project website shortly thereafter.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date on the reinstatement of the weir at a location in Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19916/24]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Ballincollig Weir, which is part of Ballincollig Regional Park, is in the ownership of Cork City Council since the boundary change between Cork County and City in June 2019. The Weir had apparently been in disrepair for many years before a breach occurred in December 2014, which has left the weir in extremely poor condition.

While there are no hydraulic benefits to the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme from the weir, the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme Steering Group in 2021, committed to the incorporation of remedial works to the weir as part of the construction contract and budget for the Scheme, if appropriate.

The nature of any such remedial works will be subject to an assessment of planning, structural, fisheries and cultural heritage considerations, which the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme Steering Group has asked the Scheme’s design consultants, contracted by the OPW, to review. The consultants’ proposal to undertake a preliminary feasibility assessment and constraints study for the reinstatement of Ballincollig Weir has been approved and is ongoing. Site surveys and inspections have now been completed, and the OPW expects to receive a draft report for review from our consultants within the coming weeks.