Vol. 559 No. 1
415 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the regular flooding of roads throughout the country and particularly in the Dublin area; if this is due to bad road design or the lack of drains; and if the drains, in some cases maintained by private companies, are being properly maintained. [25498/02]
The recent flooding in the Dublin area occurred in the context of near record rainfall for the month of November, a precipitation of some 75mm fell on Thursday, 14 November and the particular impact that this rainfall had on the Tolka catchment. The scale of flooding was unprecedented and in the River Tolka catchment was the worst since records began in 1898, exceeding in severity two other major flooding incidents in 1954 and 2000. In addition, rainfall in October was also well above normal. There was, therefore, exceptional rainfall for six weeks which amounted to over three times the average rainfall for the period. The level of rainfall on 14 November 2002 significantly exceeded normal average rainfall for the entire month of November and the result of the prolonged heavy rainfall was that the ground was already heavily saturated.
My Department's water services investment programme, 2002-04 includes the Dublin region strategic drainage study. The study is a largescale project with an estimated cost of €11.4 million. It commenced in 2001 and is due for completion in mid-2003. The River Tolka has been included as one of the rivers to be modelled in detail as well as its key tributaries. Data for the Tolka has been collected and the computer model is being constructed. When finished it will be used to assess the causes of recent flooding and to formulate options to address these problems.
This study is likely to make recommendations relating to both the provision of infrastructure and river/flood control measures. It will then be a matter for implementing bodies such as the local authorities concerned and the Office of Public Works to develop detailed implementation programmes for the projects which fall within their remit.
In the meantime, I understand Dublin City Council has asked the consultants undertaking the River Tolka flood study to produce an interim assessment of any short-term flood protection measures, and their costs, which might be possible in advance of the completion of the main report. Fingal and Meath County Councils have sought similar interim assessments.
On 27 November 2002, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for the Office of Public Works announced a review of national flooding policy. This will be carried out by a group representing the major stakeholders, i.e., Office of Public Works, Department of Finance, Department of the Environment and Local Government, local authorities and representatives of farming organisations. The review will, inter alia, (a) draw up proposals to indicate how the State should respond to different categories of flooding and recommend which agencies should have responsibility in each case, (b) report on the causes and extent of flooding, and (c) identify strategies to prevent any increase in the present extent of areas at risk of flooding, with particular reference to current predictions regarding the effects of climate change.
