Vol. 458 No. 2
68 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Finance whether any decision has been made regarding the opening of swallow holes in the south Galway area in connection with the alleviation of winter flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16684/95]
The consultants appointed to undertake the study of the flooding problem in south Galway have recommended that no action be taken to open swallow-holes.
The consultants examined this issue as a matter of priority at my request as there was a widely held view in south Galway that the opening up of certain swallow-holes would help to prevent a recurrence of the severe flooding which occurred last year.
When I met with the consultants after they had completed their initial investigations, they informed me that they had found very little evidence to suggest that the swallow-holes were blocked and that in so far as could be seen by visual inspection that was not the case. They further advised that given the uncertainty regarding water circulation and storage patterns in the area the effect elsewhere in the region of interference with swallow-holes in one location could not be reliably predicted. It was possible that if flooding was alleviated in one area, similar or worse flooding could be caused elsewhere.
The consultants strongly advised that no action be taken in relation to swallow-holes until they had studied the matter in detail in the course of their investigations. I have decided to accept that advice. The expenditure of public funds contrary to such a clear recommendation could not be justified.
70 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Finance the financial and other assistance to be made available to families in the south Galway area who have applied for relocation due to regular flooding of their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16686/95]
71 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Finance the closing date, if any, there is for relocation assistance for people affected by winter flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16687/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 71 together.
I am in the process of finalising a scheme to assist persons who have been made homeless as a result of the flooding in late 1994 and early 1995.
Owner-occupiers whose homes have either been damaged beyond repair at reasonable cost, or have been subject to long duration flooding i.e. for a minimum of three weeks, will qualify for assistance under the scheme.
I have had a number of lengthy meetings with the south Galway IFA and the South Galway Flooded Victims' Action Group, regarding the scheme and have listened carefully to their suggestions as well as explaining to them the principles underlying the relocation scheme.
While the scheme is now at a very advanced stage of drafting, there are still some aspects of it to be finalised and I am not therefore in a position to give full details of it just yet.
72 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons in this State and the number of persons in south Galway who received humanitarian aid distributed through the Irish Red Cross Society; the amount of money paid to applicants from south Galway; whether businesses receive special consideration as promised by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16688/95]
73 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details of the winter flooding emergency aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16689/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together.
I take it the Deputy is referring to the humanitarian aid funds distributed by the Irish Red Cross Society on behalf of the Government and the European Union.
A total of £1,148,000 was made available in humanitarian aid; £750,000 was provided by the Government and £398,000 by the European Union.
I am awaiting a final report from the Irish Red Cross Society on the distribution of the funds provided by the Government and expect to receive it this week and will let the Deputy have a copy of the figures.
74 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Finance the consideration, if any, being given to the undertaking of improvement works on the Kieraun River, Furbo, County Galway, under the terms of the 1995 Arterial Drainage Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16692/95]
Nine priority areas for the execution of flood relief works were identified by the Commissioners of Public Works earlier this year. One small scheme at Belclare in County Galway has been completed. Design work on the other eight schemes is in progress.
There are no proposals at present to undertake work on the Kieraun River, Furbo, County Galway. The possibility of undertaking a flood relief scheme on this river under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, as amended by the Arterial Drainage (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1995, will fall to be considered in the context of the national priority programme of flood relief works which the commissioners propose to prepare.
