Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies Coonan and Connaughton for raising this matter and for the exceptional brevity of their contributions. I will not be brief in return but will try to give full replies to each issue.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this evening the matters tabled by Deputies Coonan and Connaughton in regard to the flooding problems at Templemore, County Tipperary, and along the Dunkellin River, County Galway.

The town of Templemore lies on the River Mall and has a long history of flooding, with a number of flood events having been reported over the past 150 years. The most significant floods during the past 50 years occurred in December 1968 and, more recently, in November 2000 when approximately 40 properties were inundated. Following requests to address the flooding problem in Templemore, the Office of Public Works, OPW, undertook a pre-feasibilitv study, which was completed in 2003. The report concluded that a flood relief scheme was technically possible and economically viable. Following discussions at the steering group with Templemore Town Council and North Tipperary County Council, it was agreed to undertake a full feasibility study and environmental impact statement. The feasibility study led to the outline design of a proposed scheme being completed, which would provide the standard level flood protection against a flood event with a 1% annual probability of occurring, commonly known as the 100-year event.

The proposed scheme works include the construction of new walls and embankments, remedial works to existing walls, construction of a bypass culvert and some channel-widening downstream of the town. The proposals were placed on formal public exhibition, which I launched in January and February of 2009. Since that time, OPW has been dealing with issues raised through observations received during the exhibition process while also undertaking complex site investigations. A ground survey is complete and tendering for the main site investigation contract is to commence shortly. These investigations are expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter of the year.

Subject to resolution of all remaining post-exhibition matters and the successful completion of the site investigations, the scheme will be forwarded by year end to the Minister for Finance for confirmation, as required under the arterial drainage Acts, allowing construction of the scheme to commence early in 2011. I assure the Deputies that have I seen engineering works plans for the next two or three years, on which Templemore is listed. As long as I remain in this office, I will ensure this work is carried out.

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