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Drainage Schemes Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 October 2018

Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Questions (71)

Brendan Smith

Question:

71. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 3 July 2018, if there have been recent discussions with the authorities in Northern Ireland in relation to the need to carry out drainage work on the River Erne in counties Cavan and Fermanagh; if a drainage scheme is under consideration due to the serious problems that arise in both counties caused by the River Erne flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43868/18]

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Written answers

There are a number of watercourses including the River Erne that flow between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has a long-standing working relationship with the Department of Infrastructure, Rivers (Dfl Rivers) which is the competent authority for the implementation of the ‘EU Floods Directive’ in Northern Ireland.

In 2009, the OPW and Dfl Rivers agreed to establish a Cross-Border Co-ordination Group to co-ordinate the implementation of the ‘EU Floods Directive’ across the border. This work was supported by a Cross-Border Technical Co-ordination Group. These groups have met on a number of occasions to co-ordinate their respective work to screen and assess the flood risk and to prepare plans to manage flood risk in border areas.

The Erne Catchment was assessed under the OPW’s Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme, in close co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland. The study considered increasing watercourse conveyance of the Erne system to lower water levels as a measure to reduce flood risk. This study revealed that water levels in the majority of the Erne catchment in Ireland, remain unchanged regardless of any works that could be carried out in Northern Ireland.

The OPW does not have Arterial Drainage Schemes on the River Erne system in County Cavan and is not responsible for channel maintenance in the area in accordance with its statutory requirements under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. However parts of the Erne Catchment are a Drainage District for which the local authority is responsible for ongoing maintenance.

Question No. 72 answered orally.
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