Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
147 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Finance the progress made over the past 12 months with regard to the Tolka River and Castle Stream at Dunboyne-Clonee including the list of works carried out and the list of works remaining to be carried out; the persons who will be responsible for the works remaining; the expected time frame on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8265/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra148 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the various reports that have been published with regard to flooding of the Tolka River and Castle Stream at Dunboyne-Clonee including the dates of the reports and progress to date with regard to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8266/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take QuestionsNos. 147 and 148 together.
In June 2001 Dublin City Council had commissioned the greater Dublin strategic drainage study which is a multi-million euro engineering study of the strategic drainage requirements of the greater Dublin area. A full study of the Tolka, covering the Meath and Fingal County Council areas as well as the Dublin City Council area, was not included in the GDSDS at this time but, in view of the November 2000 flood, the Office of Public Works requested that it be included and funded it at a cost of €870,000.
The Tolka flooding study was under way when the November 2002 flood occurred. The consultants were asked to produce interim reports for all three local authorities to identify works that could be undertaken straight away to reduce the risk of flooding in the worst affected areas. The interim report for the Meath area was received by Meath County Council and the OPW in February 2003. Officials from the OPW and the county council agreed a programme of works, which would be funded and undertaken by the OPW. The proposed works were the subject of a public consultation procedure by Meath County Council as required under Part 8 of the planning and development regulations, and the main construction work began in July 2003.
The final report on the Tolka was completed in November 2003 and brings together many of the recommendations contained in the interim reports and also much additional information which will provide the basis for further decisions in relation to the catchment as a whole. The final report was published by Dublin City Council in December 2003, as Dublin City Council is the contracting authority for the report, and is available in the offices of each of the three local authorities involved. In Dublin it is available for viewing at the Civic Offices in Wood Quay and the public library in Drumcondra. It is available to view in the Meath area in Dunshaughlin area office and library, while Fingal County Council has made it available at its offices in Swords. In addition, the report has also been published on the websites of Dublin City and Meath county councils. The programme of works initiated in 2003 in County Meath included: the construction of a 1,400 metre long embankment on lands adjoining the Tolka River downstream of Dunboyne, from Loughsallagh to Clonee; the deepening and widening of the Castle Stream from the Maynooth Road bridge, Dunboyne, to the confluence with the Tolka River; underpinning of the old railway culvert to the rear of Beechdale Estate, Dunboyne; the construction of a 300 metre long, 1.5 metre high wall from Clonee bridge to the M3 and the upgrading of the Tolka over the same stretch; the replacement of the Rooske Road bridge, Dunboyne; general cleaning of the River Tolka in the Dunboyne and Clonee areas; and the removal and storage of the Castle bridge, Dunboyne. These works were funded by OPW and carried out, for the most part, by the OPW direct labour. Expenditure in 2003 was €766,000.
Some minor elements of above programme remain to be completed in 2004. The main element of the recommendations contained in the final report left to be done is the replacement of Loughsallagh bridge. Meath County Council will invite tenders for the replacement of this bridge shortly, and OPW has agreed to fund the costs of the work subject to the costs being reasonable. Expenditure in 2004 in the Meath area is expected to be in the region of €1million.
When work on Loughsallagh bridge is completed, almost all the recommendations contained in the final report for the Meath area will have been implemented. The remaining recommendations relate almost entirely to the Bennetstown-Bracetown area and involve the raising of parts of the Navan Road and the construction of some embankments. These recommendations will be considered by the OPW and Meath County Council for a further phase of works in due course. As the recommendations cater for a 100 year level of flood protection, I am satisfied that these works, when fully completed, will give long-term protection from flooding in the Dunboyne and Clonee areas from the Castle Stream and River Tolka.
