Vol. 552 No. 1
235 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the specific provision of funding to Kildare County Council for the purposes of drainage found necessary arising from the flooding throughout north Kildare in November 2000; the precise locations in this regard; the estimated amounts to be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11878/02]
253 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the flood alleviation works to be carried out in the Meadowbrook, Lyreen and Morrell rivers in County Kildare following consultations between the Office of Public Works and officials from Kildare County Council; the amount of funding available for this work in 2002; the amount already allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11668/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 253 together.
A number of ongoing meetings have taken place between my officials in the Office of Public Works and representatives of Kildare County Council in relation to reports received from the council in respect of flooding from Meadowbrook, Lyreen and Morrell rivers. The current position is that the county council has identified a series of interim measures that might be taken to alleviate flooding but a report by the council's consultant is awaited on the question of whether these works may have adverse impacts elsewhere. The council is also engaged in extending the scope of the existing reports already received to include an environmental impact study and cost benefit analysis which are essential before a full feasibility study in relation to the reports can be undertaken. Until such time as the consultant's report and the EIS and CBA are available, it is not possible to determine the definitive programme of works which will be undertaken and the amount of funding to be expended.
