913. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation further to Parliamentary Question No.155 of 3 April 2025 and the reply of the Office of Public Works stating that the Morrison's Island public realm improvement and flood protection scheme in Cork city was due to be substantially complete by the summer of 2026, the reason completion has now been deferred to 2027; the revised completion date and current estimated cost of the scheme; and the interim flood protection in place for the approximately 400 properties the scheme is designed to protect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58161/26]

The Government has committed €1.3 billion to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to protect approximately 23,000 properties in communities that are under threat from river and coastal flood risk. Since 2018, as part of a phased approach to scheme delivery, this funding has allowed the OPW, in partnership with local authorities throughout the country, to treble the number of schemes at design, planning or construction to some 100 schemes at this time. Nationally, 57 schemes have been completed to date which are providing protection to 13,640 properties and an economic benefit to the State in damages and losses avoided estimated to be in the region of €2 billion. The Office of Public Works (OPW) are proactively progressing with a number of flood defence schemes in the Cork North Central area in partnership with Cork City Council.

During the course of the development of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, it was agreed between the OPW and Cork City Council that the Council would progress the Morrison’s Island Public Realm and Flood Defence Project (Morrison’s Island Project) in advance of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme. This project is intended to deliver a comprehensive regeneration to this historic area through extensive public realm improvements that include flood defence works. Defences at Morrison’s Quay and Father Matthew Quay will protect large areas of Central Island from tidal flooding and will protect some 410 properties at flood risk during an extreme tidal event. Mitigation of properties from a flood event pending completion of the scheme is led by Cork City Council through its Emergency Management Plan.

Construction work on the Scheme commenced in 2024 and is presently ongoing. Cork City Council, that are leading this project, have advised that works to date include, cleaning, pointing and strengthening of quay walls, the installation of flap valves, construction of underground pumping stations at Parnell Plaza and Fr. Mathew Quay, refurbishment works at Trinity Footbridge and public realm works on Fr. Mathew Quay, Morrison’s Quay and Parnell Plaza. Flood defence walls have also been installed for large sections of Father Mathew Quay and Morrison’s Quay. The project achieved a significant milestone this month when works at Parnell Plaza were completed, and the area opened to the public. Construction works are close to completion on Fr. Mathew Quay (West) with works ongoing on Fr. Mathew Quay (East), Morrison’s Quay and Trinity Bridge/Union Quay.

The Morrison’s Island Project is a challenging Scheme that involves working in a confined city centre location close to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Much of the construction work is below ground with work required on old quay walls and the works location congested with utilities. It is currently estimated that the Morrison’s Island Project will be substantially complete by Q1 2027 at an estimated total project cost of some €30 million.