asked the Minister for Local Government what steps are now being taken to implement the entire Dargle river flood prevention scheme as a matter of urgency having regard to (a) the recent recurrence of flooding from the Dargle river in the Little Bray area and (b) the recommendation made in the preliminary report dated October, 1966, of the consulting engineer who prepared it that the entire scheme be proceeded with as a matter of urgency.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dargle (Wicklow) Flooding.
38.
The position in regard to the scheme for the prevention of flooding by the Dargle river at Little Bray is:
(i) The remedial works immediately necessary to prevent further damage by flooding have already commenced.
(ii) Stage I of the full permanent flood relief scheme will start when the immediate remedial works have been completed.
(iii) The work of finalising the documentation for the balance of the full scheme is already in the hands of the consultant to the local authorities concerned and no avaoidable delay should occur in proceeding with this section of the scheme.
(iv) A major sewerage scheme, estimated to cost in the region of £¼ million, which was recently sanctioned by my Department includes major flood relief works which will relieve surface water and road flooding in the Little Bray and other areas.
The Minister's reply was fairly long and I am not sure that I heard all of it. Did I understand the Minister to indicate that the entire scheme as recommended by the consulting engineer will eventually be implemented?
Yes, that is correct.
And that for the moment certain immediate remedial works are being carried out and when these are finished the entire scheme will be launched, so to speak?
Yes. When the remedial works have been completed stage 1 of the permanent scheme, which has already been sanctioned and the contract for which has been sanctioned, will commence. The finalisation of the documentation for the remainder of the permanent scheme is in the hands of the consultant and there should be no delay in that scheme proceeding. It should proceed continuously from stage 1 without any interruption.
I am, I think, correct in saying that, so far as the consulting engineer is concerned, his recommendation was that the entire scheme should be proceeded with as a matter of urgency. I think he said that, if there were to be undue delay with regard to some aspects of it, there were a number of things which should go ahead immediately. Is it to that staging the Minister is referring?
Yes.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.