Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2004
96 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the flood relief works which remain to be done in respect of the Tolka River; the time scale within which he hopes to address these concerns; the results of his meeting with the insurance companies to discuss the issue of flood cover for households that were affected by the flooding in November 2002; and if he will make a statement on the continuing refusal of some companies to provide flood cover. [17027/04]
View answerThe final report on the River Tolka flooding study, funded by OPW, and commissioned by Dublin City Council as part of the greater Dublin strategic drainage study was published in December 2003. This recommended a number of flood relief measures along the Tolka in Dublin city, Fingal and Meath. Some of the recommended works had already been proposed in interim reports produced for the three local authorities early last year and, as the Deputy is aware, OPW carried out a significant programme of works in 2003 on foot of these reports.
In the Dublin City Council area a further programme of works, including the construction of walls and embankments on the north bank downstream of Drumcondra bridge and the lowering of Distillery weir, is currently in planning by the city council and will be undertaken by OPW on behalf of the council once the necessary approvals and access arrangements are in place. Expenditure in the current year is expected to be approximately €1.75 million. Some of the recommendations, which include the replacement of Distillery Road bridge, are the subject of negotiations between the council and property owners-developers and will form part of a development proposed along the Tolka River in that area.
Works in the Meath area were substantially completed in 2003. Some minor works remain to be done this year as well as the replacement of Loughsallagh bridge, which is being undertaken by the county council with funding from OPW. Expenditure in Meath in the current year is expected to be approximately €1 million. Work has just commenced in Fingal on a programme of work agreed with the county council and which will be carried out by OPW. Expenditure in the current year is expected to be approximately €1.75 million.
I met with the Irish Insurance Federation, IIF, as part of the review of national flood policy that I initiated in November 2002. At that meeting I indicated that the State would play its part in flood risk reduction and that, in turn, the insurance industry would be expected to act in a reasonable manner. At my invitation, the IIF made a submission to the policy review group and subsequently met with OPW officials. This meeting clarified aspects of its submission and provided an opportunity for the IIF to be briefed on the State's overall strategy on flood management, including OPW's proposals for developing flood hazard maps. The final report of the policy review group is currently with the Department of Finance for consideration before being submitted to Government.
I am not in a position to intervene with insurance companies about the risks that they are unwilling to underwrite. However, I remain confident that implementation of a more strategic approach to flood management will reduce exposure to risk and provide a more accurate basis upon which insurance companies formulate their decisions on potential flood damage in the future.
