Vol. 449 No. 1
54 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Finance the steps, if any, that have been taken by the Office of Public Works to ensure that the recent flooding in Carlow does not reoccur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3038/95]
The powers of the Commissioners of Public Works to undertake work to relieve flooding are derived from the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. This has always been interpreted as empowering the commissioners to undertake work to relieve flooding only on a complete catchment basis.
The River Barrow which burst its banks due to the recent heavy rainfall, causing extensive flooding of Carlow, is at number 23 on the priority list of major catchments to be considered for an arterial drainage scheme. To date a total of 11 schemes have been completed, one is in progress and due to be closed later this year. A decision not to proceed has been made in three cases. A further three schemes are under consideration, two of which have been subjected to cost/benefit analysis and to date proved uneconomic. There is little prospect of undertaking a major arterial drainage scheme on the River Barrow in the foreseeable future.
