Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. In recent times, a new type of drainage system has been provided in many developments throughout the country. I refer to the attenuation system, which involves a soak pit that is stuck in the middle of an estate. That is all it is. It is a different name for it. The system operates like a wick by drawing and holding water before allowing it to percolate into the surrounding area. The tanks get flooded, however, when it rains heavily as it does in this country from time to time. In many developments throughout the country, there is no system of drainage from attenuation tanks. I am not an engineer, but I cannot understand how anybody designed something like that and expected it to work properly. This system does not work.

I would like to refer to the famous Waterways development in Sallins, which is in my constituency. The Minister said the estate was appropriately named, or words to that effect, when it flooded last year. He forgot that it was named after the canal beside it, which is owned by Waterways Ireland. There are many other estates that do not have the drainage they need. The flooding that took place in Sallins might not have happened if a drainage system was in place. It should never have happened. All that was required was a drainage system. The estates that depend on attenuation tanks which have flooded in the past will flood again. There is no guarantee that we will have dry weather for the rest of this century or any other century.

I ask that through building controls and regulations, particularly as they relate to architecture, this be done at an earlier stage in order that the unfortunate people who pay high prices for property do not find themselves in the same position many of my constituents found themselves in this time last year.

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