Vol. 560 No. 1
286 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance if he has received a request from Kildare County Council for the provision of works to alleviate flooding in the Straffan village area of County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1673/03]
289 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the projects for flood alleviation awaiting financial sanction in the Maynooth, Straffan, Ardlough and Leixlip areas of County Kildare following on from the interim programme of works which were sanctioned in 2002; when finance will be provided to enable the projects to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1767/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 289 together.
The Deputy will be aware that in 2002 the Office of Public Works, in conjunction with Kildare County Council, initiated a programme of flood alleviation works at various locations on the Lyreen, Meadowbrook, and Morell Rivers. Work on the Lyreen and Meadowbrook Rivers has been completed. Works to bridges on the Morrell have been completed and work to embankments partially completed. The remaining works were suspended with the onset of winter and adverse weather conditions. This work will be completed as early as possible in the current year.
Discussions between Office of Public Works and the county council are continuing in relation to flooding at Maynooth, Straffan, Ardclough and Leixlip. The Office of Public Works will consider any proposals for further works which may emerge from these discussions in the context of existing commitments and the many requests for flood relief works and funding which are on hands from other local authorities.
The Deputy will be aware that I have established a group to review Government policy on flood relief. The purpose of the review is to assess the causes and extent of the problem countrywide, assess the impact of flooding on different sectors of society, clarify roles and responsibilities of the various agencies involved, establish criteria for the prioritisation of expenditure, examine the extent and adequacy of existing powers and processes, identify strategies to manage any increase in the present extent of areas at risk of flooding with particular reference to current predictions regarding the effects of climate change, and consider criteria for initiation of any future humanitarian aid schemes. I regard this as a priority and have asked the group to report to me by August of this year.
Question No. 287 answered with Question No. 266.
288 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Finance the cost of the flood alleviation measures recommended by the consultants in their November 2002 preliminary report on the River Tolka; the cost of the works in phase one; the reason for the very considerable disparity involved; and the reason that the works recommended by the consultants as urgent are not being carried out in full. [1713/03]
The interim report produced for Dublin City Council by the consultants on the River Tolka catchment study included a total of 21 recommendations on flood alleviation measures. These recommendations were estimated to cost in the region of €6.2 million. The consultants also recommended that a further study – the Dublin coastal zone study – which had already been under consideration by Dublin City Council, should be carried out. The estimated cost of this study is €1.1 million and I understand that the city council is pursuing this.
Following detailed examination of the interim report the Office of Public Works and Dublin City Council have now agreed a package of works to be carried out on the River Tolka in the Glasnevin and Drumcondra areas of Dublin city. These agreed works will be undertaken by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the city council. The proposed works are currently the subject of a public consultation procedure by the city council as required by Part 8 of the planning and development regulations. Included in this are the raising or construction of walls and embankments at various locations between Glasnevin and Drumcondra, replacement and raising of Woodville Road footbridge, and also the raising of some ground upstream of Tolka Park. I am advised that city council officials hope to put the report on the Part 8 public consultation before the March meeting of Dublin City Council for approval. If it is approved, work on these measures will take place immediately thereafter.
In the interim, the city council is also consulting the relevant bodies in relation to any environmental implications of the proposed works. The agreed programme of works will be funded by the Office of Public Works and is expected to cost in the region of €600,000 to €700,000. The Deputy will be aware that in addition to the above, the Office of Public Works is already undertaking emergency works in the form of the maintenance cleaning of the channel from Distillery Weir in Drumcondra to Glasnevin, to remove accumulated silt and debris in order to maximise channel capacity in this area and construction of embankments from Woodville Road footbridge upstream along both sides of Griffith Park.
Not all of the recommendations contained in the interim report are being carried out at this time. Given the requirements for site investigations, detailed design of the works, public consultation and public procurement procedures and environmental considerations, it would take a considerable time to implement all the recommendations of the interim report. The concern of the city council and Office of Public Works has been to devise a package of works which can be carried out before next winter and which will provide a substantial degree of protection should similar flood events recur. I am conscious also that the full report on the River Tolka catchment is due to be completed in May and will provide additional information on which decisions in relation to the entire Tolka catchment can be made.
