Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Mar 1995

Vol. 451 No. 2

Written Answers. - Remedial Works.

Willie O'Dea

Question:

52 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance if the Ballyclough river which flows through Roxboro, Ballysheedy and Rosbrien, County Limerick, will be included on the priority list for remedial works which will be undertaken in view of the forthcoming amendment to the Arterial Drainage Act; and if it will be included in view of the financial losses incurred by some residents in the vicinity of this river as a result of recent floods. [6450/95]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. J. Higgins)

The powers of the Commissioners of Public Works to undertake drainage schemes are derived from the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, and relate to the execution of comprehensive schemes for entire river catchment areas.

The area in question is not within any of the catchments which have been drained by the commissioners to date and is not on the priority list of catchments to be considered for future catchment drainage schemes, if any.

The Government has approved proposals for the amendment of the Arterial Drainage Act to empower the Commissioners of Public Works to undertake schemes for the relief of flooding in localised areas.

An initial group of nine areas has been identified where serious localised flooding occurs repeatedly and in respect of which sufficient data is already available from various sources to enable the design of flood defence works to be commenced. It is intended to progress these schemes in advance of the preparation of a national priority programme. The inclusion of the works necessary to relieve the flooding in Roxboro, Ballysheedy and Rosbrien, in the national priority programme, will be considered.