Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 2

Written Answers. - Arrow/Owenmore Drainage.

Matt Brennan

Question:

57 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Finance the current position regarding arterial drainage of the Arrow/Owenmore Rivers and when it is hoped that work will commence on these rivers under the Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act, 1995. [1667/96]

Matt Brennan

Question:

58 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money that has been made available in the 1996 budget for drainage of the Arrow/Owenmore Rivers. [1665/96]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Coveney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together.

I am aware that there has been a long history of flooding in the Owenmore/Arrow river catchment and that many representations have been made over the years both by private landowners, through the local drainage committee, and public representatives, all of whom advocated the undertaking of a comprehensive arterial drainage scheme under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 for the catchment. Indeed, a design for a comprehensive scheme for the Owenmore/Arrow catchment was prepared and subjected to a detailed cost benefit analysis and environmental impact assessment to assess the economic merits of the scheme and the environmental effects of scheme proposals.

The Commissioners of Public Works and the Owenmore drainage committee co-operated and worked actively together in the identification and maximisation of the potential benefits to be derived from such a comprehensive scheme. However, in spite of their combined best efforts, it is evident from the results of the CBA that it was not feasible to determine an economically worthwhile scheme for the Owenmore/Arrow catchment. Indeed, variations of a number of scheme designs which were also considered proved uneconomical. It is not therefore proposed to undertake a catchment drainage scheme and consequently no provision has been made in the 1996 Estimates.

It is considered that individual areas within the Qwenmore/Arrow catchment which are subject to localised flooding could be considered for flood relief schemes under the Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act, 1995, which empowers the Commissioners of Public Works to carry out such schemes. Such areas can be identified and will be considered for inclusion among other such areas when the Commissioners are drawing up the new priority flood relief programme to be undertaken under the 1995 Act.

Schemes carried out under the 1995 Act must also pass economic and environmental assessments.