Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to set out for the information of the House some issues regarding the Camac and Poddle rivers. Many residents of Dublin city suffered trauma on the night of 24 October. I take the opportunity to express my personal sympathy and concern to the victims of the flooding, in particular those who lost family members, and other members of the public who had homes and businesses destroyed.

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, as the co-ordinating Department, under the emergency management framework is carrying out an in-depth review of emergency response procedures, actions and mechanisms with a view to identifying improvements within the framework. In the light of the severity of the flooding event on 24 October, that Department is carrying out a review of the event for consideration by the Government task force on emergency planning at its next meeting.

I understand Dublin City Council is still compiling its reports on the impact of flooding in its area, including the impact of the flooding of the Camac and Poddle rivers on the night of 24 October. Owing to the multiplicity of the flooding instances on the night, it will take some time to complete this report. When it is completed by the council and it asks the OPW to take action, either by way of the minor works scheme or alternatively by way of a longer term solution, possibly under the CFRAM proposal, we will follow up on this. I assure the Deputy the funds are available in the Department, although the lead Department is the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Our task is to respond to ideas that come from local authorities. We have yet to receive the report but when we do, we will work with the city council on the measures that can immediately be taken.

The minor works scheme is very effective because applications come in on a 24-7 basis to my Department and are turned around on one criterion only , namely, that if there is any value to be gained in spending the money, we will spend it. However, we are in the hands of Dublin City Council until it brings forward applications on a range of measures it considers necessary. We will then take action. Funds are in place this year and for next year. We have managed to ring-fence the capital budget for the purposes of flood defences, which are very important. Approximately €250 million will be spent in this area in the next five years, some €45 million each year for the next five years.

As I said, we are very much in the hands of local authorities. I can understand in the case of Dublin City Council why it might take some time for it to assess the damage done and produce a report. When the report is received by my Department and we are asked to take action on emergency or more long-term measures arising from the CFRAM study of both rivers being examined, we will take action.

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