Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2015
165. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding flooding in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45136/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) carries out an annual programme of Arterial Drainage Maintenance to a total of 11,500km of river channel and approximately 730km of embankments. This OPW programme maintains those arterial drainage schemes completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. The maintenance ensure the schemes are kept in proper repair and in an effective condition to the standard of the completed scheme. The annual maintenance programme typically involves some clearance of vegetation and removal of silt build-up on an average five-yearly cycle.
The property referred to by the Deputy is situated on the bank of a channel that forms part of the River Feale Catchment Drainage Scheme which was carried out by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The maintenance of this Scheme forms part of the annual maintenance programme. The OPW South Western Drainage Maintenance Division continues to make extensive efforts within existing resources to maintain the River Feale Drainage Scheme as part of its overall maintenance programme.
