Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Office of the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important subject. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, who is directly responsible for this matter. I hope he will be able to provide an answer to a straightforward question. When will the Minister for Finance approve funding for the Clonmel flood alleviation scheme? There is great frustration and anger in Clonmel because of the way this issue was handled, particularly in the last 12 months. We were promised that work would begin last September and when this did not happen, we were told it would start in the spring. Spring has come but there is still no sign of approval for the funding and commencement of the scheme.

I hope the Minister of State will confirm that the Minister has approved the funding and that the scheme will commence as early as possible and not later than this spring. In other words, construction must begin either this month or next. The Minister of State is aware that the flooding situation in Clonmel is absolutely horrendous. It was 12 years last Friday since approval was sought for this scheme. I was mayor of the town when I chaired a public meeting on 9 February 1995 to consider a proposal to close the local Kickham Barracks. We emerged from this meeting to discover the town had been flooded in the course of some 90 minutes. I live on the far side of the town, in the Old Bridge area, and was only able to return home with the help of the Army, members of which have done Trojan work in this area over the years.

There have been floods in Clonmel, to a greater or lesser extent, every year since 1995. The quays were flooded again this year and damage amounting to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of euro was done to homes and businesses. As the Minister of State well knows, it is not possible to obtain insurance cover in parts of Clonmel that are prone to flooding, including the Old Bridge area, O'Connell Terrace, the quays, Irishtown and Parnell Street, where significant numbers of homes and businesses have been flooded over the years. Residents and businesses in these areas have no way to secure insurance having been refused by all the insurance companies. They had to rely time and again on moneys from the Red Cross — assistance that was welcome although not enough to cover the losses they suffered.

We were promised construction of this scheme would commence last September. In reply to a parliamentary question late last year, the Minister of State told me that this commencement date had not been possible but that work would definitely commence in the spring. No moneys have been provided for this purpose, however. Will the Minister of State give a commitment that the funding will be provided and that the scheme will commence this spring, that is, this month or next at the latest?

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for the opportunity to update the House on progress. The Office of Public Works has worked with the local authorities in Clonmel in recent years in developing proposals that would lead to the alleviation of the severe flooding which has existed there for a long time. Deputy Healy outlined the problem in great detail. However, I do not recall any flood incident this year.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The quays were flooded this year as they have been every year since 1995.

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am not aware of any flood incident in the last year. Deputy Healy is exaggerating the situation.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am not exaggerating; the quays were impassable.

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In May 2005, the OPW exhibited a set of proposals for dealing with the flooding problem in Clonmel. These proposals included the construction of new walls, embankments and surface water systems, bridge replacements and new supporting walls to accept demountable flood barriers. The entire project is broken into three separate schemes. As there will be extensive use of demountable barriers in these schemes, the OPW commenced the design of an early flood warning system in 2005 in order to have a system in place which the local authority would have confidence in when the first scheme is completed. The system is still undergoing development but has already proven consistent.

The first scheme for implementation is the Clonmel west scheme. Before construction can commence on the scheme, the proposals must be confirmed by the Minister for Finance, as required by the Arterial Drainage Acts. The documents relating to the confirmation of the scheme were forwarded to the Department of Finance and are being considered. The Clonmel west scheme is estimated to cost approximately €16 million, and provision has been made for this within the OPW's budget for flood relief activities. Tenders have already been received for the embankment elements of the west scheme and once the scheme is confirmed, the OPW expects to commence those works within a matter of weeks thereafter. The main Clonmel west contract would then be expected to commence in the third quarter of 2007 and last for 18 months.

When construction on the Clonmel west scheme is under way, detailed design will commence on the Clonmel north scheme. It is anticipated that construction of that scheme will commence on completion of the west scheme. Similarly, detailed design of the Clonmel east scheme is intended to commence once construction of the north scheme is under way.

The Deputy may be pleased to learn that I have also agreed to fund a separate contract to be carried out by Clonmel Borough Council for the removal of trees along the channel. I understand the necessary surveys are being carried out with a view to undertaking these works later this year during the next environmental window.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

When will the moneys be made available?