Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Ring for raising what is an important issue in that area. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, shares the Deputy's concern about repeated flooding in the Roundfort-Hollymount area of County Mayo and the need for remedial action.

The area concerned involves two turloughs, which are part of the Kilglassan-Caheravoostia turlough complex special area of conservation. As such, it is protected under the EU Habitats Directive and is part of the EU's Natura 2000 network of protected areas. Turloughs, or lakes which disappear underground for part of the year, are a unique feature of this country and an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. They are among the most distinctive features of Irish landscapes, and many are of international importance. This complex in Mayo is one of the most important and is host to a wide range of habitats.

Where proposed works would affect Natura 2000 sites, such as in this case, it is obligatory that the procedures adopted, in consideration and implementation of proposals, are in accordance with the directive. Accordingly, an appropriate assessment must be prepared in respect of any proposals for works which would be likely to damage the integrity of the site. This must consider the effects of the proposed works on the protected habitats.

All possible alternative solutions must be thoroughly examined. If works have to go ahead for reasons of over-riding public importance, all necessary avoidance and mitigation measures must be taken. In the case under consideration, it is important that the particular flood alleviation methods proposed by the OPW do not damage the hydrology of the turlough complex, for example, causing reduction in the extent or duration of flooding in the turloughs in normal years when water levels at the site would not be expected to give rise to concerns of over-riding public importance.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government met with the Office of Public Works in April and again in June 2010 and it was agreed that certain additional design work was required on the proposed flood control structures. I understand the report on this design work was completed last week and that a copy of the report was sent to the Department today. It will be examined as quickly as possible and the Minister is hopeful that our obligations under EU law will have been met. This would allow early progress on commencing the flood mitigation works, although the precise timing is a matter for the OPW.

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