Austin Currie
Question:217 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Finance the measures taken and proposed to prevent flooding in the Lucan area of County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30784/01]
Written Answers. - Flood Relief.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:221 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance if he has received a proposal from South Dublin County Council for flood alleviation measures for Lucan village, County Dublin; when a decision will be made on this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30843/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 221 together.
In April 2001, South Dublin County Council forwarded to the Office of Public Works a report entitled "Report on Flood Events 5th – 6th November 2000 in the River Griffeen Catchment". This report identified the flooding which occurred on the river Griffeen in the Lucan Village area in November 2000 as being in excess of the 100 year flood event. The severity of the flood event coupled with the lack of capacity in the watercourses and culverts in the area resulted in widespread flooding from the Griffeen river. The report contained short and medium term recommendations. The county council commenced with a number of the remedial measures recommended. The main recommendation of the report in the medium term was the development of a catchment numerical model to identify the most appropriate combination of measures to deal with flooding in the area and to identify the requirements for the continued development of the catchment in line with proposed development strategies. The results of this hydraulic modelling are now available and are included in documentation which the Office of Public Works has received from South Dublin County Council during the last few weeks. The documentation outlines the county council's proposed works on the river Griffeen in the Lucan village area. The council has now requested the support of Office of Public Works with respect to financial contribution towards the cost. Flood relief works for the Griffeen are currently not in the Office of Public Works programme of flood relief schemes and provision for such is not included in the Office of Public Works's multi-annual estimates. Nevertheless, the Office of Public Works will be meeting with South Dublin County Council in the near future to offer advice and assistance. It has to be noted that significant additional information such as a cost benefit analysis and environmental impact study would be required to determine if a flood relief scheme for the Griffeen is feasible.