Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

These schemes rely on close co-operation between the local community and, in particular, the local authorities and Office of Public Works. Progress is often delayed, as happened in Clonmel, when disagreement arises. I have no sense that those sort of problems will arise in Templemore.

Many parts of County Galway suffered severe damage and hardship during the extreme weather event of November 2009, including areas along the Dunkellin River and Aggard Stream where 20 houses flooded. Many roads also became impassable and large areas of land were inundated. Less severe flood events occurred in the area in 1995 and 2005. Arising from these events, the OPW prepared proposals for works to relieve flooding caused by the Aggard Stream which flows into the Dunkellin River, together with minor works to the Dunkellin River. These proposals did not proceed as it was not possible to secure the agreement of property owners in the area.

Following the November 2009 flooding, the Office of Public Works commissioned Tobin Consulting Engineers to carry out a study to identify practical flood mitigation measures having regard to the unprecedented flooding at that time. The report of the study has now been completed and identifies a preferred mitigation scheme. The extent of the works identified under the preferred scheme can be summarised as follows. First, in respect of the Dunkellin River the proposals comprise channel widening and cleaning with localised deepening as identified along sections of the river from the sea outfall at Kilcolgan to east of Craughwell Village, excluding the Rahasane Turlough; replacement of the Killeely Beg Bridge; removal of the old N6 bridge at Craughwell and its replacement with a pedestrian foot bridge; installation of additional flood relief capacity at Dunkellin and Rinn Bridges; deepening of channel bed from downstream of the railway bridge to the N6 bridge at Craughwell and underpinning abutments at the railway bridge and N6 bridge; maintenance of the existing bypass channel and connection to the main channel at Craughwell. The works that are proposed as regards the Aggard stream are channel maintenance and improvement works along the stream, the Monksfield river and the Cregaclare river; and the replacement of 14 field accommodation culverts with larger capacity culverts.

This report was considered by the joint flood relief working group of the OPW and Galway County Council at its meeting on Monday, 28 June 2010. The group has endorsed the findings and recommendations of the report, including the proposed works I have outlined. The joint working group submitted its conclusions and recommendations today. I hope to be in a position to respond to them shortly. The report will be posted on the OPW website, www.opw.ie, early next week. The joint working group envisages that if its recommendations are accepted, the planning process for the Dunkellin river scheme will be initiated without delay. This will include, inter alia, carrying out an appropriate assessment in accordance with Article 6(3) of the habitats directive and an environmental impact assessment as required. Subject to the satisfactory and timely completion of the planning process, the working group foresees that the main scheme may commence in the summer of 2011 with completion in 2012.

In view of the nature of the works on the Aggard stream element of the scheme, and having regard to the fact that proposals for mitigation works for the Cregaclare scheme were put on public exhibition by the Office of Public Works in 2002, the joint working group considers that it might be feasible to commence these works in advance of the main scheme, if there are no significant local objections to proceeding in this way. The joint working group proposes that the works will be carried out by the Office of Public Works on behalf of Galway County Council under the council's powers. I assure residents of the Templemore and Dunkellin areas of my commitment and that of the Government to providing the necessary resources to implement the necessary flood relief proposals as soon as is practicable.

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