Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 3

Written Answers. - Flood Relief.

John Bruton

Question:

94 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the plans regarding his initiatives following the recent flooding; if there are plans for immediate interim works to be carried out in Dunboyne, County Meath; if so, when; the nature of the works; if the terms of reference of the GDSD are available to the public; if so, the office from which they are available; the deliverables from this study; the actions to avert future flooding which will take place immediately; if further feasibility studies will be required following the acceptance of this report; the reason no intermediate findings are being published from this study; the moneys being allocated to the Office of Public Works to help deal with anti-flood measures in 2003; if there are multi-annual budgets; the amount for years beyond 2003; the proportion of this budget likely to be set aside to implement the recommendations of the GDSD study; the work which has been done since the last floods in November 2000 to alleviate the problem; if a sum in the region of ?1.5 million was put aside to develop an early flood warning system; the work being done in this area; the results which have been achieved to date; the work to be done to implement this system fully; the actions which were taken in Lucan after the 2000 floods, in view of the fact that Lucan was not flooded in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26252/02]

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

The greater Dublin strategic drainage study, GDSDS, which commenced in June 2001, is a multi-million euro engineering study of the strategic drainage requirements of the greater Dublin area and is designed to make recommendations on stormwater and wastewater infrastructure to 2031. The GDSDS was commissioned by Dublin Corporation, now Dublin City Council, and any questions in relation to this study should be addressed to Dublin City Council.

The GDSDS did not provide for a full study of the River Tolka catchment. Given the history of flooding in the Tolka and on the initiative of the Office of Public Works, Office of Public Works, Dublin City Council agreed to extend the GDSDS to include a detailed study of flooding in the Tolka catchment. This flooding element of the GDSDS is being funded by the Office of Public Works at a cost of €870,000 and is expected to be completed in May 2003.

The Tolka flooding study will include: a survey of the river channel, flood plain, river structures and properties potentially at risk; development of a river model to represent the hydrological and hydraulic processes defining extreme flood events in the Tolka; flood profiling and flood risk mapping along the river and tributaries to define the flood plain, properties at risk and flood levels; use of the model to define the effects of future planned development, up to 2031, in the catchment; and consideration of options for flood relief and identification of the optimum scheme to protect properties at risk based on consideration of technical, environmental and cost criteria.

Following the severe flooding of the Tolka on 14 and 15 November 2002, the three local authorities involved – Dublin City Council, and Meath and Fingal County Councils – have each requested the consultants undertaking the flood study to produce interim reports for each local authority functional area on the immediate measures that can be taken to alleviate flooding in the worst affected areas. The interim report for the DCC area has been received and is currently being studied by officials of DCC and the Office of Public Works and a meeting has been arranged between the DCC and my officials for 16 December 2002 to progress the matter. The interim reports in respect of the Meath and Fingal areas of the Tolka are expected in the next two to three weeks.

The Office of Public Works's financial allocation for flood relief activities in 2003 is €19.9 million. The Office of Public Works will continue to engage in its priority programme of flood relief schemes throughout the country. These include schemes at construction stage, planning and design stage and also some small localised flood alleviation works by local authorities which are being funded by the Office of Public Works.

The Office of Public Works has not been engaged in any flood alleviation works in Lucan. I presume the Deputy is referring to flooding from the River Griffeen. I understand South Dublin County Council, under its own local authority legislation, has been engaged in a programme of flood alleviation works on the River Griffeen in the Lucan village area.

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. I am initiating this review to develop a cohesive national flooding policy that will deal with the growth and complexity of the flooding problem. The purpose of the review is to assess the extent of the problem countrywide, clarify roles and responsibilities of the various agencies involved and to recommend practical action to deal with flooding. The review will be carried out by a group representing the major stakeholders – the Office of Public Works, Departments of Finance and the Environment and Local Government, local authorities, IBEC and the IFA. The review group will receive submissions from, and consult with, a further wide range of relevant bodies.