Flood Relief.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 February 2010

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Questions (66, 67)

Paul Connaughton

Question:

201 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Finance if and when a decision will be made to install a single authority to oversee the management of the River Shannon and its tributaries in an effort to reduce the incidence of unnecessary flooding causing untold hardship to so many rural families; if such authority will be empowered to impose regulations over the various constituent bodies such as Waterways Ireland, fisheries board, ESB, national parks and wildlife service, the Office of Public Works and other stakeholders that use the Shannon navigation system irrespective of their present mandates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6731/10]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh)

A number of agencies, including the ESB, Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, relevant local authorities and Waterways Ireland have a specific statutory function or a responsibility in relation to aspects of the control and management of the Shannon basin and its water levels. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government also has a role in relation to managing environmental aspects of the catchment. Future management of the Shannon must take account of relevant EU legislation relating to rivers, in particular, the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive.

The Water Framework Directive, which is primarily concerned with water quality, is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, operating through a network of River Basin District committees containing representatives of major stakeholders. The Floods Directive requires that the level of flood risk in each catchment in the country, including the Shannon, should be identified and that a prioritised plan of measures be drawn up to address the risk in areas where it is significant. This is to be done by undertaking a Flood Risk Assessment and Management Study (CFRAM) for each catchment. These studies must be completed by 2015, and must be reviewed every 6 years thereafter.

The Office of Public Works will take the lead coordinating role in the carrying out of the Shannon FRAM. The study, which is expected to commence in mid-2010, will involve consultation with all of the main stakeholders, including the ESB, Waterways Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Fisheries Board and relevant Local Authorities. The EU requires that the implementation of the Floods Directive and the Water Framework Directive should be closely coordinated in each Member State. This provides the basis for the development of an integrated, coordinated approach to the management of all matters relating to the River Shannon. The Floods Directive will be transposed into Irish law by Statutory Instrument shortly. The effect of this is, rather than creating a single agency as suggested by the Deputy, to give to the OPW the necessary statutory authority to ensure the participation of the stakeholders in the process of effectively managing flood risk in the Shannon catchment.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

202 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance, further to parliamentary Question No. 83 of 21 January 2010, the extent to which he has evaluated the areas in County Kildare which have been subjected to severe flooding in the past three months; the extent to which it is intended to implement the necessary measures to ensure protection against a recurrence thereby minimising future damage to property in the areas in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6744/10]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh)

In 2009 the Office of Public Works (OPW) introduced two new initiatives relating to the provision of minor flood alleviation works for rivers and for coastal protection and under this initiative, provided funding to Kildare County Council to complete a programme of flood relief works for the River Toni in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. These works were completed in 2009 and as a result Celbridge experienced no fluvial flooding during the recent flooding. I should also mention that I have recently extended the aforementioned scheme and increased the funding that will be made available by OPW this year. An initial allocation of €6 million is being made available for works and studies to address flooding and coastal protection which can be undertaken in 2010 compared to approximately €2 million which was allocated in 2009.

My Officials continue to meet regularly with Kildare County Council to discuss how best to prioritise the areas in the county which have a history of flooding and/or been subjected to recent flooding. As a result of these meetings Kildare County Council will be submitting flood relief proposals from other locations in the county for inclusion in the programme of minor works for 2010. It should be noted that all applications for funding of minor works will be considered by OPW and prioritised as part of the overall strategy for dealing with flooding throughout the country and it will also be a prerequisite that any works considered will take cognisance of the Liffey Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) study that forms part of the National CFRAM programme, which is being rolled out in 2010.

Furthermore, the Commissioners of Public Works have agreed to allocate funding to complete a programme of flood alleviation works in the Johnstown area, and Kildare County Council has been successful in obtaining planning approval in accordance with Part 8 of the planning and development regulations for this scheme. It is envisaged that the scheme will get underway later this year subject to the Local Authority being able to resolve outstanding issues in relation to land acquisition and site investigation.