Vol. 557 No. 4
449 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action he has taken to date on the Report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Enterprise on Shannon flooding; the timescale involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22235/02]
The recommendations of the Interim Report on Flooding on the River Shannon by the Joint Committee on Public Enterprise and Transport were among the factors considered in determining non-national road grant allocations in 2001 and 2002. They will also be borne in mind in determining the 2003 non-national road grant allocations which will be announced in early 2003. The significant resourcing of the non-national roads programme in recent years has provided the opportunity, at the discretion of the road authorities concerned, for prioritising action in relation to the problems identified in the interim report, if necessary on a phased basis.
My Department will also be prepared to consider sympathetically any request from local authorities in the Shannon catchment area to adjust their multi-annual restoration programmes so as to prioritise works to repair flood damage to particular roads, or to raise roads to prevent future flooding.
