Flood Risk Management

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2022

Thursday, 20 October 2022

Ceisteanna (210)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

210. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the agreements that are in place between the Office of Public Works and local authorities in respect of removing debris and trees which have become trapped in bridges crossing rivers; the action that his Department and the OPW are taking together with local authorities to ensure that there is not an adverse outcome at these bridges as a result of increased rainfall and flooding; if all bridges will be inspected before the period of time when there would be increased rainfall and larger volumes of water in rivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52518/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Local flooding issues are a matter in the first instance for each Local Authority to investigate and address. Concerns regarding potential obstructions or other hazards that might contribute to flooding in the context of a severe weather event should be brought to the attention of the relevant local authority. Under the Government’s Framework for Major Emergency Management, each local authority is designated the Lead Agency for co-ordinating the response to flood events within its functional area.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes and flood relief schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended.  Arterial drainage maintenance is an ongoing programme of works of a cyclical nature, typically every four to six years. Each year, the OPW prepares an annual arterial drainage maintenance programme for each region that identifies the proposed maintenance locations within each arterial drainage scheme catchment area. The annual maintenance programme is informed by data gathered from a variety of sources, including maintenance records, observations from inspections and from information provided by members of the public. In addition to these planned maintenance activities, the OPW may also carry out maintenance work where necessary to address issues that come to its attention.

This maintenance work is organised on a regional basis at locations in Mungret, Co. Limerick, Headford, Co. Galway and Trim, Co. Meath. Concerns regarding potential obstructions or other hazards on a channel that is maintained by the OPW should be brought to the attention of the OPW at [e-mail].  An online map of the country with detailed information on the location of schemes maintained by the OPW can be found on www.floodinfo.ie. 

Riparian owners of land also have an important role in ensuring that watercourses are managed and free flowing so that in extreme weather events the risk of flooding can be minimised. A guide to the rights and responsibilities of landowners is available online at www.flooding.ie.