Flood Risk Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 November 2021

Thursday, 4 November 2021

Questions (129)

Joe Carey

Question:

129. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on his Department’s efforts to implement the recommended solution put forward in the December 2020 multi-agency report which was produced following a number of hearings of the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development to address the severe flooding at Ballycar, Newmarket-On-Fergus, County Clare on the Ennis to Limerick rail line which is part of the Western Rail Corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53594/21]

Written answers

Minister for Transport

As previously advised to the Deputy, the question relates to a flood relief proposal which is not within the remit of my Department.

The report in question was conducted on foot of a request by the then Joint Oireachtas Committee for Rural and Community Development and prepared by consultants under the auspices of a multi-agency Steering Group comprised of Clare County Council, the Office of Public Works, Geological Survey of Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Iarnród Éireann. A copy of the report was subsequently shared with numerous stakeholders, including my Department.

As the Deputy is aware from previous responses, the works proposed are not works related to the actual railway but instead involve the attenuation of some flows at Rosroe and Finn Loughs along with removal of the underground restriction between the swallow hole and spring and ancillary works. Flood relief works of this type are not a matter for my Department.