Vol. 449 No. 3
57 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he will make finance available for businesses and individuals who had their premises seriously affected by the recent flooding in Carlow and Leighlinbridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3537/95]
A provision of £2 million has been made to deal with the effects of the recent flooding in the agricultural sector and an additional provision of £4 million has also been made for maintenance of county roads. The expenditure of these provisions will be a matter for the Departments of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Environment, respectively.
It would be expected in the normal course that damage to premises would be covered by the owner's insurance. Such a liability should not, therefore, fall on the State and consequently no provision has been made to meet it.
The Government has established an inter-departmental committee to be chaired by me as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility at the Office of Public Works to co-ordinate its response to the effects of the recent bad weather. I am determined to ensure that the committee will provide a quick and effective response to the problems in so far as this is possible.
58 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Finance the allocation, if any, that has been made to alleviate flooding in north Clare and south Galway; and when drainage and related works will commence; the locations of these works. [3600/95]
The Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, has always been interpreted as empowering the Commissioners of Public Works to undertake drainage schemes on an entire river catchment basis. Because of the unique nature of the geological formation of north Clare and south Galway there are special difficulties in defining individual catchments in these areas. They are not, therefore, included on the priority lists of major and minor catchments on which the execution of drainage works are based. I have decided to commission a major study of the problems in the south Galway area to determine if possible the causes of the problems and identify and evaluate potential solutions.
The Commissioners of Public Works have prepared proposals for the amendment of the 1945 Act to enable them to undertake works where appropriate for the relief of localised flooding. These proposals are at present under active consideration in the Department of Finance.I have asked the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance to give early consideration to the enactment of this proposed legislation.
The Government has established an inter-departmental committee to be chaired by me as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works to co-ordinate its response to the effects of the recent bad weather. I am determined to ensure that the committee will provide a quick and effective response to the problems in so far as this is possible. I am also pursuing the issue as a matter of urgency.
