Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2016
193. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when Waterways Ireland will carry out improvement works on the embankments of the River Blackwater in Clonlara, County Clare, between Mount Catherine Bridge and the diversion point facilitating the Plassy-Errina Canal, to prevent a reoccurrence of the flooding experienced in this area in 2015. [31335/16]
View answerI am advised by Waterways Ireland that the area referred to by the Deputy is some 710 metres in length but that the organisation’s jurisdiction extends only to some 350 metres upstream of the Blackwater/Canal diversion point. Waterways Ireland undertook repair works to the embankments along that 350 metre stretch in 2013. I am informed that Waterways Ireland is currently working on a separate stretch downstream of the diversion point towards Gilloge Bridge. However, it is not in a position to carry out works outside of its jurisdictional area to Mount Catherine Bridge.
I am also advised that the jurisdictional area has been raised and clarified by Waterways Ireland with the local authority and the Office of Public Works, and that a meeting is taking place on site to further discuss the matter with the local authority this coming Friday (21 October 2016).
