Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2005
7 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Finance his plans for anti-flood measures in the Dublin city area for 2005; the funding that has been allocated for this work; when agreement will be reached with Dublin City Council for the programmes of work for 2005; and if the Tolka River between Annesley Bridge and Alfie Byrne Road, Dublin 1 will be dredged and the river walks strengthened and heightened.
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works is currently completing the phase 2 works on the River Tolka which were commenced in 2004 following public exhibition by Dublin City Council under part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. The OPW and the city council are currently in discussions on a programme of works for 2005. The priority for the OPW since the works commenced in early 2003 has been to undertake works in those areas with high risk of flooding in an extreme event. The area around Distillery Road was identified as having a high risk.
Considerable work has already been completed in this area and the OPW is anxious to have the outstanding work completed at an early date. These have been the subject of negotiations between the city council and property developers as part of a proposed development in this area, with the intention that the developer would either undertake the works directly or else provide the funds to have them completed by the OPW.
Other works under consideration include repair works in the Botanic Gardens, underpinning of Dean Swift Bridge, upgrading of a wall downstream of Dean Swift Bridge and the widening of the bank in Griffith Park. The OPW has allocated €1 million for flood relief works in the Dublin city area in 2005. The OPW expects to meet city council officials within the coming weeks to agree on a programme of works for 2005.
As indicated in reply to the Deputy's questions on 16 December, the question of undertaking works in the East Wall area will be discussed. However, the current position is that no additional protection works are recommended by the consultants in the tidal reach of the river downstream of Luke Kelly Bridge, which includes the areas referred to by the Deputy. No flooding took place directly from the river in this area in the 2002 flood, although some low-lying areas were flooded via the drainage system.
Issues in this area are being addressed in the greater Dublin strategic drainage study, GDSDS, which is being undertaken by Dublin City Council. This study is expected to be completed shortly and is expected to include proposals to improve the storm water drainage system. One of the drainage measures already highlighted in the Tolka report is the provision of drainage flap valves on all storm water outlets as well as the installation of a pump station to allow storm water to be pumped into the river.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
List of works undertaken on River Tolka in Dublin city: new walls and embankments on Botanic Avenue; Griffith Park embankments; replacement of Woodville Road footbridge; walls downstream of Woodville Road footbridge to Drumcondra Bridge; walls and embankments at Tolka Cottages Park; raising of wall from Drumcondra Bridge to Tolka Park; protection works at corner of Tolka Park; walls and embankments from Tolka Park to Distillery Weir; widening of bank on Clonliffe College grounds; removal of Distillery Weir; scour damage repair at 112-114 Tolka Road; new walls downstream of Distillery Road Bridge on northern bank; and general channel maintenance.
Expenditure in City area by the OPW since 2003:
2003 —€1.18 million.
2004 —€1 million.
Expenditure in Fingal area by the OPW since 2003:
2003 —€20,000.
2004 —€700,000.
Expenditure in County Meath area by the OPW since 2003:
2003 —€750,000.
2004 —€1 million.
Is the Minister aware that the area to which his reply refers did not flood in 2002 but was flooded by the River Tolka on previous occasions? Is he also aware that insurance companies will not give flood insurance cover to householders in the East Wall-North Strand area because of the lack of Government action to address the issues and provide adequate anti-flooding measures?
I draw the House's attention to the East Wall-North Strand area, which lies between the mouth of the River Tolka and the point at which the Royal Canal enters the Liffey. It has been flooded from both sides in the past and has a history of flooding, yet no actual work has been carried out adjacent to this area. The issue is not being taken half seriously, if it is at all. Residents have drawn attention to the section of the River Tolka between Annesley Bridge and Alfie Byrne Road, to which I referred, which needs to be dredged and the river walls strengthened and heightened. Flood gates have been promised for the Royal Canal where it enters the Liffey but none of this work has been done. Meanwhile houses in East Wall——
Does the Deputy have a question?
Is the Minister aware that, meanwhile, some houses in East Wall cannot be bought or sold because insurance cover is being refused to prospective buyers or to householders because of this lack of action?
The Minister may not be aware of all this even though I have raised these issues with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for the OPW, Deputy Parlon.
Will he bring these matters to the attention of Dublin City Council and the Office of Public Works? They have been lax on this issue. Following the flooding of two years ago, there was an initial spurt with a great deal of work done in the Drumcondra area, a politically sensitive one. Since then, the work has all but ceased. People are concerned as in excess of 2,000 houses in the East Wall-North Strand area are susceptible to flooding and have been flooded in the past.
I understood Deputy Gregory's political sensitivity was constituency-wide. I will ensure the contributions raised during this exchange are brought to the attention of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, and Dublin City Council.
The Minister should not forget Fairview and Clontarf.
I hope these matters will be taken into account at the meeting that will take place shortly to discuss what works will be carried out by the Office of Public Works in respect of these potential flooding problems. I hope it will become clearer as to what will be done in the course of the year. I will bring the issues raised by Deputy Gregory to the attention of both parties.
What about the insurance issue?
That is a serious issue for residents in the area. This must be addressed in a manner to satisfy the insurance companies to re-insure those houses. It would be helped if, as a result of the meetings between Dublin City Council and the Office of Public Works, some works will be agreed. I will take these matters up with both parties. I do not have a detailed knowledge of the issues raised by Deputy Gregory. However, I will ensure they receive the attention suggested by the Deputy.
