Michael Ring T.D., raised the issue of the Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme in the Dáil. Deputy Ring questioned the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the latest position with the Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform advised Deputy Ring as follows: "The Office of Public Works (OPW ) submitted the Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme documentation to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for Statutory Confirmation under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995 on 28th September 2020.
"As part of this statutory process, stakeholders were afforded a formal opportunity to provide comments on the environmental element of the proposed works. Following this consultation, independent consultants appointed by Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER ), carried out a review of the scheme documentation. Following this review, supplementary information was requested by DPER in May 2021 and provided by the OPW in July 2021."
The scheme is currently awaiting confirmation from the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department Of Public Expenditure and Reform has advised that it has received final technical reports from their environmental consultants on the proposed flood relief scheme, following clarifications they sought from the OPW on further information recently provided in relation to the proposed works.
The Department is now finalising its review and a decision by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform whether or not to make an order confirming the scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts is now imminent and will be communicated to the OPW shortly.”
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform wrote to the OPW on the 27th September 2021 with a further update indicating the specific conditions under which Ministerial Consent to progress the scheme might be granted under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. The OPW’s Project Team is currently reviewing this information and will respond to DPER as soon as possible”.
Deputy Michael Ring stated: “When the former Minister of State- Kevin “Boxer” Moran- was in office – that money was in the OPW for this Flood Relief Scheme. There is no reason why this should not be completed as soon as possible”.
