Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019
188. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a river in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3995/19]
View answerI am advised that local maintenance and flooding issues, such as the issue identified here at Milltown Bridge, are a matter in the first instance for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and county councils may carry out maintenance and flood mitigation works using their own resources.
The OPW operates the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to provide funding to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. This Scheme’s eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website. The OPW has received no application under this scheme for works in the area identified.
Dingle was assessed as one of the 300 areas believed to be at significant flood risk under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management, CFRAM, Programme. The CFRAM programme culminated with the launch on 3 May, 2018 of 29 flood risk management plans, which proposed 118 new outline flood relief projects, in addition to 42 major projects already completed, and 33 major schemes within the existing capital works programme of the Office of Public Works, OPW.
The CFRAM Programme identified potentially viable flood relief works for Dingle that may be implemented after project-level assessment. These proposals include the provision of a storage area on the Dingle Stream upstream of the town, some defences at the downstream end of the Milltown Stream and tidal flood defences comprising of sea walls and embankment.
While the proposed scheme for Dingle is not in this first tranche of projects to be progressed, the OPW and the local authority will work closely to ensure that it will be commenced in the coming years and within the ten-year timeframe for the programme of investment.
