Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2017
380. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will carry out strengthening works on a bank (details supplied) in County Kerry in order to prevent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24200/17]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) carries out a programme of Arterial Drainage Maintenance to a total of 11,500 km of river channel and approximately 730 km of embankments nationally. These maintenance works relate to arterial drainage schemes completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. The OPW has a statutory duty to maintain the completed schemes in proper repair and effective condition. The annual maintenance programme typically involves some clearance of vegetation and removal of silt build-up on an average five-yearly cycle. Each year, work is carried out to approximately 2,000 km of channel and about 200 structures around the country.
The areas at Rusglen, Shanakeale, Keel, Castlemaine, Co. Kerry, lies at the downstream extent of the River Maine Catchment and is under the auspices of the Commissioners of Public Works. I have asked officials from my office to contact the Deputy to discuss the exact location of the bank concerned to establish if it forms part of the ongoing maintenance in this area.
