Vol. 559 No. 1
182 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money which has been set aside for the assistance to victims of flooding; the funding which has been set aside for to carry out works on the River Tolka to ensure that interim remedial works can be carried out as a matter of urgency while the full study which is due in May 2003, is awaited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25405/02]
At its meeting on 27 November 2002 the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service approved a Supplementary Estimate of €5 million on Vote 44 for a humanitarian aid scheme in respect of the recent flooding.
A report, requested by Dublin City Council, outlining interim works in the Dublin city stretches of the Tolka, was received by Dublin City Council on 29 November and a copy was forwarded to the Office of Public Works – OPW. The report is currently being studied by officials of Dublin City Council and Office of Public Works and a meeting has been arranged for 16 December to progress the matter.
I understand that both Fingal and Meath County Councils have requested reports on potential interim works in the upper reaches of the Tolka and that they are in preparation at the moment and are expected to be completed within the next two to three weeks. I expect to receive copies of each report as soon as they are available.
At this point it is not possible to say what the total cost of interim works might be or how the question of funding these works might be addressed.
