Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 29 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 2

Written Answers. - Flood Relief.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

116 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the road between Kilmaine and the Neale in County Mayo is blocked due to flooding at Ballinacarra, Kilmaine, County Mayo; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this blockage can occur in wet weather and last for up to 100 days and causes great inconvenience to the general public at large but means, in particular, a 15 mile round detour for farmers to enable them to travel to inspect their stock, a journey that should normally take five minutes; if he will make a suitable grant available to deal with this annual problem on the basis of a scheme submitted by Mayo County Council to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2266/98]

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

While the Ballinacarra, Kilmaine, area is situated in the Corrib-Headford river catchment area it was not included in the Corrib-Headford catchment drainage scheme carried out by the Commissioners of Public Works under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, between 1967 and 1973 as the cost would not be justified on economic grounds. The commissioners' responsibilities for this scheme are now confined by statute to the maintenance of the scheduled works.

In July 1990 the Office of Public Works was commissioned by Mayo County Council to undertake an investigation of the flooding problem at Ballinacarra, Kilmaine, and to suggest to the council what remedial action should be taken to relieve the flooding. The commissioners subsequently undertook a detailed survey of the area and a report and design of a scheme were forwarded to the council in December 1990. This report indicated that the Commissioners of Public Works were prepared to complete the works on behalf of Mayo County Council on an agency basis. Nothing further has been heard since from the council in the matter.

It would not be the responsibility of the Commissioners of Public Works to make grants available to local authorities for drainage works. Their current resources are fully engaged, both now and for the foreseeable future, in the preparation and execution of priority flood relief schemes around the country.