Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2016
200. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the remedial works or funding he can allocate to help alleviate the damage from flash floods in areas of north Roscommon where many home owners were forced to flee their homes recently after torrential rain. [17356/16]
View answerIt is a matter for Roscommon County Council in the first instance to investigate and address minor or localised flooding issues in the county. It is open to the Council to undertake any appropriate and viable local flood mitigation works using its own resources. The focus of the Office of Public Works' (OPW) funding support is for works related to fluvial (river) flooding. Flooding caused by significant pluvial events i.e. intensive rainfall over a short period usually in a relatively small geographic area and where the surface water drainage systems cannot cope with the volume of water are the responsibility of the local authority. Having regard to the foregoing, the local authority can submit an application for funding if appropriate under the Office of Public Works (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the scheme's eligibility criteria which includes a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding. Details are on the OPW website at http://www.opw.ie/en/floodriskmanagement/operations/minorfloodworkscoastalprotectionscheme/.
