Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 7

Written Answers. - Dunmanway (Cork) Flood Relief Scheme.

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

112 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the proposals the Office of Public Works have in mind to alleviate the Dunmanway flood problem; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Department of the Environment have outlined by letter to Cork County Council, dated 30 March 1991, that the responsibility for alleviating this problem lies with the Office of Public Works; and if he will now make arrangements for approval and sanction of funds to the Office of Public Works for the implementation of the board's preliminary report and the immediate commencement of work in the Dunmanway flood relief scheme.

Minister for Finance (Mr. A. Reynolds)

The powers of the Commissioners of Public Works to undertake drainage works are derived solely from the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, and relate to the carrying out of works by means of comprehensive schemes for entire river catchment areas. The commissioners have no power to undertake piecemeal works for the relief of particular areas in a catchment in advance of a comprehensive scheme.

The Dunmanway area forms part of the Bandon catchment which is No. 25 of 28 catchments on the priority list of major catchments being considered for treatment under the Act but, in view of the extent of existing commitments, it is unlikely to be reached for consideration under the Act for many years.

In 1990 Cork County Council requested the commissioners, in the light of their technical expertise, to act as consultants to the council in the examination of the causes of flooding in Dunmanway and to propose methods for providing increased protection from flooding for the town. The commissioners completed this investigation and furnished their report to the council in May 1991. It was clear from the outset that the investigation did not involve the commissioners in any commitment to undertake works for the relief of flooding in the Dunmanway area.

The report deals with the prevention of flooding in Dunmanway only and its implementation is accordingly a matter for the local authority in the first instance. The provision of funds to the Office of Public Works for the implementation of the report does not, therefore, arise.