Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013
94. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason remedial works on the River Clare in County Galway to prevent further flooding are not complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43643/13]
View answerIt is important to point out at the outset that major flood relief works such as the Clare River flood relief scheme involve complex engineering and construction operations which inevitably involve lengthy lead-in times, with each scheme having its own unique set of variables to be considered. The Office of Public Works (OPW) works with the relevant Local Authority to try to ensure that the scheme proposals are acceptable to local people, and must also ensure that the requirements of environmental and other stakeholders are met as far as possible.
A Public Exhibition of the Clare River scheme was held in late 2012 and stakeholders were afforded an opportunity to send in their observations on the scheme proposals. A number of responses were received, including a detailed submission by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to nature conservation and underwater archaeology aspects of the proposed works. The issues raised were considered fully by the OPW, where necessary with in-depth technical input from the consultants for the scheme, and have been addressed where appropriate. The scheme will be submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for Confirmation (i.e. statutory approval) shortly and it is expected that construction will commence before the end of the year in areas that do not have particular environmental or weather restraints, subject to approval being given by the Minister.
I would point out that very substantial advance works, involving construction of an additional flood eye at Claregalway Bridge and construction of a new bridge at Crusheeny, have already been carried out. These advance works have had a substantial positive effect in reducing the flood levels in these areas.
