Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 1

Written Answers - Inland Waterways.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

259 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands further to Parliamentary Question No. 774 of 27 January 1999, her views on whether the overflow from Behans into the Shinkeen stream at Hazelhatch, Celbridge, contributed to the flooding in April 1998; her further views on whether she should contribute towards the improvement in the water carrying capacity of the Shinkeen stream in view of the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3459/99]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

As I stated in my reply to the Deputy's previous question, to which he refers, the volume of surplus water discharged at Behan's overflow at any particular time varies but any discharge will obviously contribute to the water level in the Shinkeen stream. However, it has to be stated again that Behan's overflow has been in operation for over 200 years while the more frequent complaints about flooding are of relatively recent origin and appear to arise from the siting of developments in the flood plain of the stream. In the circumstances, the question of my Department contributing towards improvement of the water carrying capacity of the stream does not arise.