Vol. 492 No. 3
66 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will instruct the Office of Public Works to survey the waterways between the Grand Canal aqueduct over the Morell at Straffan, County Kildare, and the out-fall of these to the Liffey; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13903/98]
67 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will instruct the Office of Public Works to take the necessary action to prevent the Grand Canal from overflowing at the aqueduct over the Morell at Straffan, County Kildare, and at Hazelhatch, Celbridge, which has resulted in large scale flooding and damage to property, including one house being demolished; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13904/98]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 66 agus Uimh. 67 le chéile.
Responsibility for the care and management of the Grand Canal rests with my Department under the Canals Act, 1986. I have no responsibility for the Office of Public Works which has statutory powers to undertake works for the relief of localised flooding under the Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act, 1995.
The overflow on the south bank of the Grand Canal east of the Morrell River Aqueduct feeds into a back drain which runs parallel to the towpath and flows back into the Grand Canal below the 14th lock at Devonshire Bridge. There is no discharge of surplus water into the Morrell River.
The overflow on the north bank of the canal east of Hazelhatch Bridge, known as Behan's overflow, feeds into a back drain which runs parallel to the towpath and flows into the Shinkeen Stream at a point 500 metres to the west of Behans's overflow. This system of canal water management has been successfully operating for over 200 years.
