Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
365. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the Office of Public Works own the river and costal banks it maintains; if there is a public right of access on these banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47929/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, as amended.
The OPW arterial drainage maintenance programme comprises 11,500km of river channel and 800km of embankments. The embankments are not in State ownership but are on lands that are, for the most part, privately owned.
The responsibility for the condition of the channel and riverbank typically rests with the riparian owner who has 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
