Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Flood Relief.

Ulick Burke

Question:

428 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Finance the position in relation to the south Galway drainage plan; the expenditure to date from the allocation of funds in 2000; the works carried out during 2001; the planned expenditure in 2002; if additional funds will be made available in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2145/02]

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

In the budget for 2000 a sum of £2.5 million, 3,174,345, was provided for special works to alleviate the effects of flooding in south Galway. I established a steering group in January 2000 to bring forward proposals for the most efficient and effective use of those funds. The group comprises representatives from the Irish Farmers Association, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Galway County Council and the Office of Public Works. The group has been examining the feasibility of a number of schemes for the following areas: Cregaclare, Mannin Cross, Kilchreest, Termon, Kiltiernan-Ballinderreen and a number of culvert sites in the Kinvara area. The group has met on six occasions to date.

The scheme at the most advanced stage of preparation is that for Cregaclare. The cost benefit ratio for this scheme is currently being considered by the Commissioners of Public Works. The proposed schemes for Mannin Cross, Kilchreest and Termon all involve transferring larger volumes of water to adjoining river catchments and, accordingly, require complex investigation and assessment in order to determine downstream impacts. These areas are being monitored on an ongoing basis by consultants and final project reports on feasibility are awaited. Pending the outcome of these investigations into the feasibility of the schemes, it is not possible to give any commitment to work programmes or definitive timescales for them.

The scheme at Kiltiernan-Ballinderreen involves significant environmental issues. There is also an existing privately executed scheme there. These private works and the surrounding area have been surveyed by the Office of Public Works and are currently the subject of ongoing review by the Office of Public Works in consultation with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. In relation to the two culvert sites in the Kinvara area which were identified for possible works in the south Galway flood report, the Office of Public Works instructed Galway County Council in September 2001 to proceed with these works. Work on these culverts is substantially complete and the costs, up to approximately £200,000, 253,947, committed to works at Kinvara is due to be paid to Galway County Council in 2002. In respect of consultants' studies and reports, £36,189, 45,950, was expended in 2000 and a further £35,741, 45,382, in 2001.