Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 1

Written Answers. - Flood Defence Management.

Mary Wallace

Question:

188 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the Departments, State agencies, offices and other authorities with a direct or indirect responsibility for flood defence management here; the individual spend of these bodies on flood management since 1 January 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25506/02]

Mary Wallace

Question:

195 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the state agency which is responsible for the management of flood defences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25806/02]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 195 together.

There is no State agency with overall responsibility for the management of flood defences.

The Commissioners of Public Works have responsibility for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes and local flood relief schemes undertaken by them.

Local authorities have responsibility for the maintenance of drainage districts.

I understand the Electricity Supply Board, Waterways Ireland, Aer Rianta, and some harbour authorities also have responsibility for certain flood defences related to their individual activities. I am also advised that groups of trustees have responsibility for some former Land Commission embankments.

There are a large number of watercourses for which no Department or State authority has responsibility. Individual property owners may have some responsibilities in respect of these.

The Commissioners of Public Works and the local authorities have power to undertake works to relieve flooding.

Expenditure by the Commissioners of Public Works on maintenance and flood relief schemes was as set out in the following table:

1997	€10.6 million
1998	€15.7 million
1999	€15.4 million
2000	€18 million
2001	€26.1 million
2002	to date €31.5 million

The Commissioners of Public Works do not have figures for expenditure by the other authorities.

Mary Wallace

Question:

189 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether a single agency should be established in order to defend flood-prone inland, river and coastal blackspots in the future as well as maintain these flood defences and to identify potential flood blackspots areas throughout the State; his further views on whether such a single agency should contribute to the planning process in order to support land use management decisions which avoid designating flood-prone land for development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25507/02]

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

The Deputy will be aware that on 27 November 2002 I announced that I was arranging for a major review of national flooding policy to be carried out. The purpose of the review is to assess the extent of the problem country-wide, clarify roles and responsibilities of the various agencies involved and to recommend practical action to deal with the problem. The review will be carried out by a group representing the major stakeholders – Office of Public Works, Departments of Finance and Environment and Local Government, local authorities, IBEC, and IFA. The review group will receive submissions from, and consult with, a further wide range of relevant bodies.

The issues raised by the Deputy are more properly matters for consideration as part of the major review I have announced and it would be prema ture for me to offer any comment pending the report and recommendations of the review group.