Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 30 Jan 1992

Vol. 415 No. 2

Written Answers. - County Mayo River Flooding.

Enda Kenny

Question:

41 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works have responsibility for a section of a river (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will have arrangements made for improvement works to be carried out in view of flooding and erosion occurring there at present.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The Office of Public Works have no responsibility for the section of river referred to. The Commissioners of Public Works derive their powers to carry out drainage schemes from the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. These schemes are carried out on a comprehensive catchment basis and the work is undertaken in order of priority of the 60 or so most important rivers in the country.

The Owendurnan catchment is not included in the priority lists. I regret, therefore, that there is no question of this catchment being reached in the arterial drainage programme. In the meantime, the Commissioners have no powers to undertake piecemeal works for the relief of a particular area in a catchment.