Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2005
20 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance the level of disruption likely to occur in areas of Dublin where flooding occurred; the proposed drainage schemes that are implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7121/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe last major flood event to occur in Dublin happened in November 2002 when there was major flooding from the Glasnevin and Drumcondra areas of Dublin city to the Clonee area on the County Meath border as a result of the River Tolka breaking its banks. Analysis has shown that this flood exceeded the scale of any previous flood on record in the catchment.
There was widespread flooding of residential properties from Glasnevin to Ballybough. The river also broke its banks along the N3 road at Blanchardstown which led to the road being closed for a period of time. Residences and roads were also flooded in the Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart and Clonee areas causing widespread damage.
Since this flooding in 2002 the OPW, in co-operation with Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and Meath County Council, has been implementing flood alleviation measures which were recommended in the River Tolka flooding study which was under way at the time of the 2002 flood. Most of these works have been constructed by OPW direct labour as part of a scheme which, when completed, will provide protection against a flood event with a design return period of 100 years. With some exceptions, the works from Dunboyne in County Meath to the Luke Kelly bridge in Ballybough have mostly been completed. The OPW and the local authorities have pursued a policy of completing works in areas where the higher risk of flooding existed.
Flooding also occurred in Dublin city in February 2002 from the River Dodder which was the result of tidal surge. Major flooding of residences took place in Ringsend and the north inner city as a result. The OPW had no responsibility for the River Dodder but following a request from Dublin City Council, funding of €1.7 million was made available for the construction of a wall in the Ringsend area from London Bridge to Ringsend Bridge in order to alleviate the risk of flooding there.
As a result of flooding in Dublin in February 2002, the Dublin coastal flooding protection project was initiated by Dublin City Council in association with Fingal County Council, the OPW, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. The project has been part funded by the OPW and a draft final report is due shortly. The report examines the causes and impacts of flooding in an area from Portmarnock to Booterstown and includes the Tolka, Liffey and Dodder estuaries. The report deals in particular with the risk to Dublin and Fingal from coastal flooding, the need for an early flood warning system, the identification of appropriate strategies and policies to combat and manage the risk of flooding, and the identification of various works which would add to coastal defences already in place.
Initial indications are that the cost of proposed flood defence works in the report is estimated at over €100 million. This report will need to be carefully examined by all the stakeholders before committing to any recommendations contained in the report. The OPW, in particular, will need to consider the cost implications in the context of its annual budget for flood relief activities of €20 million approximately, and the large amount of flood alleviation projects currently being advanced by OPW.
