Office of Public Works

We request that this request be expedited as a matter of urgency. WHEREAS 1. The OPW have been engaged in the cleaning out of the River Blackwater from where the Royal Canal passes over it to Longwood in County Meath. 2. This operation has been conducted from in or about Summer 2021 to the Winter of 2021. 3. Large specilised machinery has been observed conducting the operation; much of it aparenlty hired in. We require the following information: - 4. A copy of the scoping exercise conducted to inform the project work that are recently undertaken, 5. Whether a[n environmental][ scoping exercise was conducted prior to the commencement of the operation to mitigate any potential damages that may arise? The Boyne & Blackwater are an SAC, and no works should impinge on the qualifying interests ... https://www.npws.ie/protected- sites/sac/002299 6. A copy of the OPW records where these works were first noted as a concern and earmarked for works, complete with all revisions as to the priority for said works 7. A copy of the entire project brief to include all of the project works/requirements complete with their exact specifications, the RAMS – (risk assessment method statement). 8. A copy of the OPW records where these works were first noted as a concern and earmarked for works, complete with all revisions as to the priority for said works 9. Details of how much this operation has cost to include a full cost breakdown of the entire project (to include all billable and non-billable hours) by both OPW staff and or any other third parties that may be involved in the project. 10. Details of how much the hired machinery cost? 11. Who sanctioned this operation? 12. Who or what entity requested this operation? 13. Whether this operation was at the request of a 3rd party? 14. If the above point is in the affermative; the identity of that 3rd party? 15. Copy correspondence between that 3rd party and the OPW? 16. Copy of all third-party/landowner engagements issued by OPW in respect of the project. 17. The reasons why this operation was deemed so urgent?