Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will respond firstly to what the Senator said about accessibility to our sites. I have visited places where the accessibility is not there yet. I do not have figures for the cost of doing it at a number of sites where we do not have it properly in place. I will try to gather those figures and come back to the Deputy. It is important that we have total accessibility. It is something we are striving towards.

Senator Horkan also spoke about the problems in Dundrum and the link with the Dodder, which is the subject of a major ongoing scheme. I cannot give the Deputy specific details of the work that is being done on the ground now. I know the works are ongoing.

The Senator also asked about the cleaning of drains, which is a matter for each local authority. I think channels, drains and gullies need to be kept clean when all surface water schemes are being done. If large quantities of water are continuing to flow straight to outfalls that cannot take such quantities, attenuation ponds should be set up in intermediate locations to take water and release it on a gradual basis. It is a matter for local authorities to design such systems.