Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 December 2006
111 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Finance the works that were carried out by the Office of Public Works on a river (details supplied) in County Mayo in the past ten months; and if he is satisfied that these works were not a contributing factor to the recent flooding of that river. [42173/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra112 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Finance if the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works will personally visit the area which was severely flooded last weekend in County Mayo in order that he can witness the damage this flooding caused; and the work that will be carried out to prevent such an occurrence again. [42174/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.
The flooding in Crossmolina resulted from the River Deel over-topping its banks at a point upstream of the section of the river which the Commissioners of Public Works maintain under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The section that the Commissioners are responsible for is maintained in proper repair and effective condition, as required by the Act. No works were deemed necessary or carried out by the Commissioners in the past ten months in that section. The Commissioners have not carried out any works in the area where the flooding occurred and have no power at present to do so.
Office of Public Works engineers visited the area on Monday of this week and collected data from Mayo County Council officials and local residents that will help to establish the cause of the flooding. Further meetings of officials will take place, commencing this week, to identify possible measures to reduce future flood risk and potential mechanisms to implement any such measures.
