asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if his Department has carried out any investigation into the extent to which the bursting of a dam at Paddocks Lake in Wicklow, which is under the control of the Forestry and Wildlife Service, contributed to the severe flooding in Bray on 25 August last; if his Department has entered into negotiations with landowners in Wicklow regarding possible compensation for damage from the flooding; if his Department intends to offer compensation to those families in Little Bray whose homes and possessions were damaged by the flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Flood Damage.
32.
The Forest and Wildlife Service of my Department has investigated the collapse of the dam at the Paddock Pond in County Wicklow. I am advised that, because of the unprecedented deluge that took place in the catchment area of the River Dargle and its tributaries over a sustained period on the night in question, the volume of water released by the collapsed dam was small in relation to the total volume of water flowing through the catchment area that night and which caused the flooding in Bray.
My Department does not accept liability for any damage caused by the flooding and, accordingly, the question of their paying compensation in that respect does not arise.