Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 1990

Vol. 396 No. 3

Written Answers. - County Monaghan Flood Damage.

William Cotter

Ceist:

111 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Finance if he will arrange to have compensation paid to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan whose premises were flooded in 1986 as a result of a combination of heavy rainfall and the fact that the Office of Public Works was carrying out works downstream which slowed down the flow of the river; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, as a result of the flooding, the person concerned, who was a business man at that stage lost a considerable amount of stock and was forced out of business as a result.

Minister for Finance (Mr. A. Reynolds)

The Commissioners of Public Works have investigated the matter and they cannot agree that the flooding caused to the person's property was as a result ot their works under the Monaghan Blackwater catchment drainage scheme. Excessive rainfall at the time in question, the highest since records began, caused extensive flooding of the north and northwest generally and this rather than any works carried out by them, was the cause of the flooding. In the circumstances, the Commissioners cannot accept liability for the losses incurred in this case.