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Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Questions (403)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

403. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 214 and 215 of 10 December 2013, if he will clarify whether he was referring to the Athleague Flood Alleviation Committee, or to the River Suck Joint Drainage Committee in his answers; if he will explain what the €270,000 was spent on; if he will give an assurance that any future allocations of money to the prevention of flooding in Athleague will be spent on Athleague and not on other issues in County Roscommon; if he will consider coming to Athleague to view what the €270,000 achieved in terms of infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13153/14]

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Written answers

As I stated in my reply to the Questions to which the Deputy refers, the appointment of members of Drainage Committees - whether the Committee concerned is the Athleague Flood Alleviation Committee, the River Suck Joint Drainage Committee or any other Drainage Committee - is the statutory responsibility of individual County Councils under the direction of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I have no function in the composition or function of such Committees.

The sum of €270,000 to which the Deputy refers was provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to Roscommon County Council on foot of an application by the Council under the OPW's Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme for funding for specified flood relief works in Athleague. The Council subsequently decided to vary the proposed mitigation works for the town arising from a recommendation by their consultants.

The bulk of the works at Athleague have been completed and the OPW understands that the remaining element, a proposed embankment along the Silver Stream, will be dependent on the results of site investigation works which will commence shortly.

Under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme, the identification of the appropriate mitigation measures, progression of the works and accounting for the expenditure of the funding allocated is a matter for the Council in the first instance. Without the OPW's consent funding provided cannot be used by a Local Authority other than for the purpose for which it was allocated.

The Deputy will be aware that I visited Athleague in September 2013.

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