Parliamentary Question for Brian Hayes TD.
For WRITTEN ANSWER on 29/01/2014
To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures being taken by the Office of Public Works to put in place flood alleviation measures at Togher County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Reply
A Flood Relief Scheme for Douglas and Togher is currently being advanced by Cork County Council with funding to be provided by Office of Public Works (OPW). It is understood that the Council has signed a contract for consultants in the last two weeks to take the development of a scheme forward through design, planning and construction.
While it is expected that a new culvert will be the preferred option for Togher, the consultants will be expected to validate outputs to date from the Lower Lee Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study. The Togher proposal, along with the emerging preferred scheme for Douglas, is expected to be brought forward to public consultation before the end of 2014, either though the planning process or the Arterial Drainage Acts.
If such a scheme is well received, then it will be followed by detailed design, procurement of a works contractor and construction. OPW has made provision for the costs of a scheme in its multi-annual budget profiles, but such funding will be subject to review depending on actual budget allocations.