Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Feb 1995

Vol. 448 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - County Carlow Flooding.

Mr. Browne

(Carlow-Kilkenny): Walking the plank in Carlow is a serious matter. While it is almost 40 years since Carlow was flooded in 1947, flooding occurred there on three occasions recently, in 1990, 1993 and again this year. Nothing much has changed in the town since 1947. The streets have not been lowered nor have many new buildings been erected, but for some reason Carlow has been flooded three times in five years.

The Office of Public Works should carry out a study on what caused the flooding. Householders and business people deserve to have that office examine the position and take steps to alleviate the flooding by carrying out three relatively cheap jobs in the area, proposals for which were submitted by the urban council on 26 June 1993. First, the construction of training river walls along the Barrow track, second, the provision of a flat valve at Graiguecullen and, third, the construction of a new junction where the river Burren meets the Barrow at Graiguecullen. At an estimated cost of £120,000 these three constructions could bring relief to the people of Carlow and Graiguecullen.

The Office of Public Works should immediately undertake another study the feasibility of dredging works on the Barrow in the environs of Carlow town and downstream. Leighlinbridge an Graiguenamanagh are also flooded downstream from Carlow. The question is whether dredging is being done upstream with no preparation to allow the water to flow into the sea. The removal of silt would be a major help in preventing the second biggest river in Ireland — the Barrow — from flooding again.

Compensation must be provided to individuals, private business people whose property is flooded because their financial loss is great. They cannot get insurance cover because the danger of flooding has always existed. While the European scene is dreadful, the people of Carlow suffer the same fate. A flooded house is a flooded house regardless of location. Not only should compensation be paid to them, it should be paid quickly.

While the Minister is not directly involved in the provision of bridges, the long awaited bridge over the river in Carlow would at least allow people to travel from Rosslare to the west without going through floods. It is unfortunate that we waited two years for an inquiry and signing a bridge order. If this had been done we might be close to providing the badly needed bridge. I ask the Minister to give the people of Carlow some hope that the Office of Public Works will deal urgently with the second biggest river in Ireland which is slow moving and silts up. I hope the Minister has good news.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Hogan)

I thank Deputy Browne for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to address the serious issue of flooding.

The payment of compensation to relieve hardship caused by the flooding is outside my area of responsibility. However, the question of compensation should be examined and I will be bringing the matter to the attention of the appropriate Ministers.

I now turn to the issue of what, if anything, can be done to try to prevent future occurrences such as the flooding experienced in Graiguecullen, Carlow, and indeed in other areas.

Under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, the Commissioners of Public Works are empowered to carry out schemes for the relief of flooding in river catchments. This Act has always been interpreted as requiring the Commissioners to undertake work on a complete catchment basis but not empowering them to undertake work to deal with localised flooding. A great deal of work has been carried out in catchments throughout the country and many areas which escape flooding in recent years would have been damaged but for such schemes.

The problem in Graiguecullen, Carlow, has been caused by the river Barrow bursting its banks and inundating low lying areas in the town. I understand that flooding to the extent experienced this week was not recorded since 1947.

This is an area which, unfortunately, has been subject to regular flooding and is generally at risk in February and December. While the Office of Public Works has at present no statutory role in relation to flooding in Graiguecullen, Carlow, it maintains a general interest in such matters because of its functions under the Arterial Drainage Act. In this regard, I understand it devised a system which would provide some advance warning of the likely occurrence of flooding in the towns. While this would not enable action to be taken to prevent the flooding, it would allow some time for people to be evacuated or for other precautionary measures. The system may have been of some assistance as Carlow County Council gave early warning of the impending flooding.

I want to assure the House that the Government is keenly aware of the difficulties caused by the present flooding in many areas of the country and that all relevant Departments are monitoring the situation to determine what measures may require to be taken in the short and longer term.

I am aware that many areas have not benefited from arterial drainage schemes carried out under the 1945 Act and I am conscious that several areas, including Graiguecullen, have suffered flooding as a result of the recent heavy rain. It should be said that preliminary information from the Meterological Office indicates that rainfall during January was, in some cases, 86 per cent over normal. I am very concerned at the widespread hardship caused by flooding. As the Deputy may be aware I have visited and met delegations at Graiguecullen, Sixmilebridge, Cappamore and Gort and I have seen the effects of flooding first-hand. I would like to take this opportunity to express my concern for all those who have suffered hardship as a result of flooding and my appreciation of the magnificent response of the emergency services everywhere.

I am anxious to see what, if anything, can be done to prevent similar occurrences in future. The Office of Public Works found that it is virtually impossible to design economically viable catchment drainage schemes. With this in mind I have instructed the relevant officials to prepare proposals for legislation that would enable them to undertake work to deal with flooding on a more localised basis. It is vitally important that the Government is in a position to respond immediately and with maximum effect to alleviate distress and suffering caused by large scale flooding. These proposals are currently under consideration in the Department of Finance and I have been in contact with the Minister for Finance to try to expedite that process.

I expect to be in a position in the next few weeks to decide what action may be taken in specific areas.