Vol. 548 No. 4
128 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the reason the issues raised by the Dukes Meadows residents association on 16 August 2001 and 7 September 2001 have not been dealt with; and if he will contact the local community to resolve all outstanding issues and restore a working relationship with their representatives. [5135/02]
I am informed by my officials in the Office of Public Works that the Dukes Meadows residents association letters of 16 August 2001 and 7 September 2001 deal with a range of issues arising from the River Nore (Kilkenny City) drainage scheme that have been the subject of a number of previous discussions with the residents' representatives. The issues of concern to the residents refer mainly to the following topics: (a) the phasing and details of the work affecting the Dukes Meadows site; (b) the physical properties of the fill material to be placed on Dukes Meadows; and (c) environmental monitoring of the works.
Information regarding the physical properties of the fill material has already been issued to the residents. This information was taken from the ground investigation factual report. A full copy of the factual report, and also a copy of a geotechnical interpretative report based on the findings of the ground investigation, are now being forwarded to the residents association for the information of its technical sub-committee.
The specification for environmental monitoring of the works has already been sent to the residents' association. Arrangements for the testing of the fill material to be placed in the "meadow" have been put in place. Owing to the late start of the construction works on the scheme and the intervening winter period, the phasing arrangement for the works in Dukes Meadows has yet to be finalised. There is an ongoing arrangement in place whereby Office of Public Works officials and the Office of Public Works's consulting engineers meet with residents association representatives three times a year to discuss concerns and monitor progress. It is intended to have the next such meeting in the near future, when it is hoped to finalise all outstanding issues. The resident engineer for the scheme, who is based in Kilkenny for the duration of the project, is also available at all times to help the residents association in relation to any queries or concerns they may have.
