11 December 2019
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Mr. Kevin “Boxer” Moran, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief today clarified the position regarding the progression of the Glashaboy-Sallybrook Flood Relief Scheme.
The Minister said “My Office, under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts, has submitted the proposal for the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme, accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS), to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for formal Confirmation”.
He continued ”The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has made regulations entitled European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019. These were published in Iris Oifigiúl on 27 September 2019. On foot of these Regulations the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will undertake an environmental assessment of the proposed scheme in line with required legislative requirements, and this will involve an independent assessment of the EIAR / NIS and a public consultation process. The procurement and appointment of a Contractor will then be progressed for this scheme as soon as practicable following formal Ministerial Confirmation”.
Glanmire is now in the functional area of Cork CITY Council. The funding Government Department has provided reassurance to locals that the project is on track.
The Minister concluded by stating “OPW is committed to funding this project and to offer every assistance to Cork City Council to ensure a speedy progression of the process to engage a contractor and have works commence as soon as possible. I would like to reiterate, for the community of Glanmire, that this project has priority, has the funding in place and will progress to the next stage as soon as the necessary confirmation is received. Let there be no doubt, I appreciate the concerns of the community and would like to reassure the people of Glanmire of this major investment commitment – demonstrating yet again this Government’s and OPW’s commitment to a sustained capital programme to improve the level of flood risk protection for homes, businesses and infrastructure, as we all recognise the serious personal and economic impact of flooding”.
Notes
The proposed Glashaboy River (Glanmire/Sallybrook) Drainage Scheme will include the construction of direct flood defences and conveyance improvement measures along the Glashaboy River and its tributaries. The direct defences proposed include flood walls and embankments with the conveyance improvements consisting of localised channel widening and deepening and the introduction of or replacement of culverts. Future maintenance of the scheme will also be carried out.