Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2022
83. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Kerry County Council has approached his Department regarding the possibility of incorporating further walkways and cycleways along the River Maine levee system in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21471/22]
View answerMy Office has no record of an approach by Kerry County Council in relation to the provision of walkways and cycleways along the River Maine levee system.
The provision of walkways and cycleways is a matter for local authorities and the Office of Public Works (OPW) does not have any statutory function or remit in this area.
The OPW is responsible for the maintenance of embankments that form part of Arterial Drainage Schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945, including the embankments that form part of the River Maine Scheme. The OPW does not own the property on which such embankments are located and only has powers of entry onto the land to undertake maintenance works. It should also be noted that these embankments were not originally designed or constructed to cater for walkways or cycleways.
Therefore, any proposals relating to walkways and cycleways along the River Maine in County Kerry would be a matter for the legal owner of the land along with Kerry County Council. The OPW is happy to work with the local authority in relation to the development of such community assets, and would provide any advice and assistance where possible. Any proposed development at embankment locations would have to recognise the OPW’s requirement to gain access to conduct routine inspection and undertake maintenance where required.
In relation to embankments that may form part of future OPW funded flood relief schemes, the OPW is also happy to work with any local authorities that wish to explore opportunities for the provision, where feasible, of added value elements such as walkways and cycleways in the development of flood defence structures.
