Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests witnesses and thank those who have travelled at a time when the country is experiencing the effects of Storm Diana. Before the committee are: from Geological Survey Ireland, Mr. Koen Verbruggen, director, and Dr. Ted McCormack, groundwater flood programme; from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mr. John Fitzgerald, principal; from Clare County Council, Ms Carmel Kirby, director of physical development, and Mr. John Leahy, senior engineer, roads and transportation department; from Iarnród Eireann, Mr. Jim Meade, chief executive, and Mr. Colin Hedderly, senior track and structures engineer; and from the Office of Public Works, OPW, Mr. John Sydenham, commissioner, Mr. Liam Basquille, principal, engineering services, and Mr. Cian O'Donaill, south-west regional engineer.

I remind witnesses, staff, members and those in the Gallery to turn off their mobile phones or switch them to flight mode. They interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for parliamentary reporters to report the meeting as well as affecting the television broadcast and web stream.

I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. It is proposed that any submissions, opening statements or other documents supplied by the witnesses to the committee be published on the committee website.

On 23 May 2018, the committee held a public meeting on the question of flooding at Ballycar on the Galway-Limerick railway and investment in heavy rail. The committee has also engaged with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the National Transport Authority. Six months later, we resume our hearing and we have invited the same organisation back to update the committee on progress in mitigating the flood risk at Ballycar.

The first railway in Ireland and the first suburban railway in the world was opened in 1834 and is still in use today, 184 year later. That is the Dublin to Dún Laoghaire line. It seems that we need to take a very long view when considering investment in heavy rail, which is capital expenditure with a long-term payback. Members of this committee have spoken of the closure of railway lines in the Border regions including Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan, the Derry route, which gave a fast connection between Derry and Dublin, and the Sligo-Leitrim railway, some of which were closed because of the policy of the then Government of Northern Ireland. This made the remaining sections of the railway line in the South non-viable. Members also spoke of the closure of the west Cork railway, which makes it difficult to travel from west Cork to Dublin and back in one day.

It is not all bad news, however. Many railway lines were closed only to be reopened years later. The Harcourt Street line was closed in 1958; a member of this committee travelled on one of the last trains on that line. Part of the line with a cross-city link to the Broadstone line, which closed to passengers in 1936, is now one of the busiest in the country. The lines from Cork to Midleton and Dublin to Dunboyne, the Phoenix Park tunnel and the Galway-Limerick line were all reopened in recent years. However, the Galway-Limerick line is regularly closed due to groundwater flooding at Ballycar. These line closures are all too frequent and cast doubt on the viability of further investment in the western rail corridor. This means the certainty of supply that rail passengers expect is simply not there. I hope the organisations here today will indicate their willingness to work together to mitigate this flood risk at Ballycar.

The flood mitigation measures, which could reduce the flood risk to an acceptable level, would be to lower the water level by draining Ballycar Lough to the sea via Lough Gash, to raise the railway, or a combination of the two. The committee would also like to receive an update on heavy rail investment plans. The Geological Survey of Ireland, GSI, is the lead agency for groundwater flooding, which occurs in karst, or limestone, areas. I look forward to hearing what progress is being made with the study on this flooding which occurs in the west of Ireland, in south Galway, areas of Mayo, Roscommon and the neighbouring counties and, in particular, in Ballycar, County Clare.

I call Mr. Koen Verbruggen to make his opening statement on behalf of the Geological Survey of Ireland, GSI.