Vol. 436 No. 1
82 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance whether the Office of Public Works has identified the extent of its responsibility in view of the flooding which takes place regularly at Hazelhatch, Celbridge, County Kildare; if he intends to direct the Office of Public works to undertake drainage works in the vicinity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The problem of flooding at Hazelhatch has been the subject of detailed investigation on an ongoing basis by the Commissioners of Public Works since responsibility for the canals were transferred to the Commissioners in 1986. The Commissioners are satisfied from these investigations that they are not responsible for the flooding of Hazelhatch. The flooding is caused essentially by the local Shinkeen stream overflowing in periods of very heavy rain and by the poor local drainage conditions.
The Shinkeen stream, falls within the River Liffey catchment area. The Liffey is number 21 in the priority list of major catchments for arterial drainage schemes. I regret that I can envisage no prospects of undertaking a catchment drainage scheme in this area in the foreseeable future.
