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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Ceisteanna – Questions (Resumed). Priority Questions. - Flood Relief.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

140 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Finance the reason the final report on flood alleviation measures on the River Tolka in Dublin city due in May 2003 has still not been made available; the reason flood alleviation measures on the Tolka between Drumcondra Road and East Wall Road have to date not been carried out; the further reason funding has not been allocated for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21052/03]

As the Deputy will be aware, the full report on the River Tolka flooding study, which is being funded by the Office of Public Works at a cost of €870,000, is being carried out by consultants employed by Dublin City Council as part of the greater Dublin strategic drainage study. The final report was initially expected to be completed in May. However, as the consultants were heavily involved in producing interim reports for the three local authorities concerned, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and Meath County Council, and also preparing the design of the interim measures being undertaken, it was not possible to meet the deadline. A draft final report was completed and received by the Office of Public Works and the local authorities in counties Meath and Fingal and Dublin city last month. The report, as it considers the River Tolka catchment from Dunboyne in County Meath, through the Fingal area and all the way through the Dublin city area, is being given careful and detailed examination by Office of Public Works. This examination is now almost complete and Office of Public Works will be submitting its observations to Dublin City Council very shortly. Completion of the final report by the consultants will follow on as quickly as possible but it will be dependent on how significant any proposed changes are. All parties are aware that the report should be completed speedily so that decisions can be made on the whole Tolka catchment.

Following the completion of the interim report from the consultants in November 2002, discussions took place between Dublin City Council and the Office of Public Works on a package of works which could be undertaken and funded by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the coun cil. The works were undertaken under the Local Authorities (Works) Act 1949, and the council publicly exhibited the package of works in January to February of this year, in accordance with the requirements of Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. Not all of the recommendations contained in the interim report were included by Dublin City Council in the proposed package of works and no works downstream of the Tolka Park area, apart from general maintenance, were included in the schedule of works provided to the Office of Public Works.

Almost all the works contained in the Part 8 process exhibited by Dublin City Council have now been completed and the cost of these works to the Office of Public Works this year will be in the region of €1 million. When the final report is ready the Office of Public Works will enter into discussions with the local authorities as to how its recommendations can be implemented.

Will the Minister of State not agree that the delay in the publication of the final report has more to do with a failure to provide adequate funding for the works required than with anything else? What funding has been set aside for the works that remain? I am referring specifically to the area downstream of Griffith Park and Drumcondra Road. Thousands of homes are at risk in the Clonliffe-Ballybough-Richmond Road area. They have been flooded twice in the past three years and virtually nothing has been done regarding that stretch of the Tolka. Will the Minister of State not agree that he is negligent? He gave a commitment in the Dáil on a number of occasions to me and other representatives of the area that the works would be carried out, yet the city manager has told members of the city council that funding has been sought for the removal of the Distillery Weir, which is a major undertaking, to free the whole Clonliffe area from the threat of flooding. There appears to be no answer from the Department.

Will the Minister of State indicate what funding has been allocated and for what works downstream of Drumcondra Road? I welcome the work which has been carried out opposite the Taoiseach's office in Drumcondra around Griffith Park. The problem is that virtually nothing has been done anywhere else. As we are now heading into the winter, people are very concerned that their homes will be destroyed yet again unless these works are carried out. That whole stretch of the Tolka has not been properly dredged. The weir has not been removed. A bridge at Distillery Road which is an obstacle and flood threat has not been raised or removed. The river walls along this stretch have not been reinforced. Nothing has been done. What is the Minister of State's response to these issues? Is he waiting for another flood to devastate the area on the north side of Dublin?

I appreciate that most of the work has taken place upstream of Tolka Bridge. When the Office of Public Works was faced with the task of responding immediately – people wanted an immediate response – the first report had not been drawn up. In terms of planning permission, the public exhibition and environmental impact study takes substantial time. Given the money which has been spent and the work carried out, one must concede that the work carried out has been very practical. The work downstream involves a more technical input, including a major environmental impact study, detailed engineering design and so on.

It was not a simple operation to carry out the work downstream. The draft report suggests an overall cost in excess of €30 million, which includes an area from County Meath to the sea. As regards the works carried out upstream, in four of the major exits water came overboard. Much of the flooding downstream of Tolka Bridge was caused by water that flowed out upstream, went overground through the streets and did a lot of damage. The works which have been carried out will limit substantial flooding in the future.

Work will have to be carried out which will cost a substantial figure. The current Office of Public Works budget is just €19.9 million annually for the total flood relief scheme. As I said earlier, matters will be decided shortly in the context of the final report. When major works are being carried out, such as the work on the weir, the extra costs involved in dealing with objections and public consultations can be very substantial. The flood review group has been sitting for the past six months and is about to report shortly. It is becoming almost impossible to carry out a major scheme both from practical and expense points of view. Other alternatives will be considered following the publication of the final report.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Question No. 141.

May I ask a brief supplementary?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We have gone over the limit.

The Minister of State did not answer any of the specific questions I put to him. Significant works need to be carried out on the Clonliffe stretch of the Tolka River, down to East Wall Road.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

We have gone way over the limit.

The Minister of State has not said what money is allocated for that work or what work has been agreed. All of this has been discussed in the draft report.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I ask the Minister of State to make a brief reply.

No decisions have been made and the whole area on the north central side of Dublin is being left open to the threat of flooding yet again.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I ask the Minister to deal with Question No. 141.

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