Dáil debates
Thursday, 26 January 2017
Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions
Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure
2:45 pm
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the overall expenditure in the Roscommon-Galway constituency on flood relief works for 2016, in tabular form, with a breakdown for counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3426/17]
Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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What is the overall expenditure for the Roscommon-Galway constituency in respect of flood relief works in 2016?
Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works, OPW, spent over €1.8 million on capital flood relief activities in the counties of Galway and Roscommon in 2016. Table 1 sets out the details of that expenditure.
Table 1
| Project | County | Actual Expenditure 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Claregalway Flood Relief Scheme | Galway | €1,165,722 |
| Dunkellin River Flood Relief Scheme | Galway | €427,188 |
| Ballycolgan Minor Works (Direct OPW works) | Galway | €22,318 |
| Deerpark, Ballinasloe Minor Works | Galway | €19,000 |
| Ardacong, Tuam Minor Works | Galway | €9,000 |
| Lakyle, Craughwell Minor Works | Galway | €9,000 |
| Blackrock, Gort Minor Works | Galway | €18,000 |
| Grannagh Minor Works | Galway | €5,400 |
| Carrownamadra, Kinvarra Minor Works | Galway | €13,500 |
| Beagh, Tuam Minor Works | Galway | €14,220 |
| Parkacurry, Monivea Minor Works | Galway | €11,700 |
| Manuslynn, Headford Minor Works | Galway | €10,350 |
| Ballinasloe Town Minor Works | Galway | €96,849 |
| River Jiggy Minor Works | Roscommon | €6,548 |
Aside from the Ballycolgan minor works, which were carried out directly by the OPW, all other minor works were funded by the OPW and carried out by the local authorities under the minor works scheme and coastal protection scheme. The list of works I have provided have been carried out.
In regard to the minor works in the above table, the amounts shown are what was actually drawn down in funding by the local authorities in 2016 in respect of each project. There were further amounts approved by the OPW in 2016 for other minor works projects, in respect of which the local authorities have not yet requested a drawdown. Details of all minor works projects are provided below in tabulated form.
In addition to the above capital expenditure, the OPW undertakes maintenance of its arterial drainage schemes throughout the country. The schemes where maintenance would have been undertaken in 2016 which affect counties Galway and Roscommon include the Corrib Clare, Corrib Headford, Boyle, Knockcroghery and Killimor drainage schemes. However, it is not possible to break down this expenditure on a county-by-county basis.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme
Galway and Roscommon County Councils - Funding Approved and Drawn-down in 2016
| Local Authority | Project Location | Project Details | Approved Funding | Date of Approval | Funding Drawn-down |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galway County Council | Manusflynn | Construct a 600 mm diameter piped road culvert, remove obstructions & associated works | €10,350 | 27/02/15 | €10,350 |
| Deerpark, Ballinasloe | Carry out drainage works upstream of the main Deerpark River channel | €19,000 | 10/03/16 | €19,000 | |
| Ballinasloe Town Centre | Purchase Temp Flood Defence- Aquadam to be deployed as required, to be available for Galway County also | €96,849 | 22/03/16 | €96,849 | |
| Ardacong, Tuam | Study | €9,000 | 28/04/16 | €9,000 | |
| Ardacong, Tuam | Construct a surface water pipe along the route of the Tuam bypass for a distance of 750 m to a tributary of the River Clare | *€83,700 (allow in principle) | 28/04/16 | €0 | |
| Lakyle, Craughwell | Study | €9,000 | 28/04/16 | €9,000 | |
| Blackrock, Gort | Construct an earthen embankment- crest level is required to have a minimum of 500 mm freeboard above the highest recorded flood level which occurred in 2015. A drainage system to cater for internal surface drainage will also be required. Relevant environmental criteria shall be complied with as the proposed works are adjacent to the Peterswell Turlough SAC | €18,000 | 28/04/16 | €18,000 | |
| Fahy's, Grannagh | Construct a 40 m length of reinforced concrete retaining wall, 1.2 m high around a section of the farmyard | €5,400 | 22/06/16 | €5,400 | |
| Whyte's, Carrownamadra, Kinvarra | Construct a 140 m length of stone faced concrete block retaining wall, 750 mm high around a section of the property & to install a sump & road crossing. | €13,500 | 22/06/16 | €13,500 | |
| Dark Road, Castletaylor North, Ardrahan | Study | €9,000 | 22/06/16 | €0 | |
| Beagh, Tuam | To extend a 900 mm diameter pipe across the N83 | €14,220 | 20/07/16 | €14,220 | |
Parkacurry, Monivea | To clean & maintain overgrown sections of the open channel, up size 1 no. road crossing to a 900 mm diameter pipe, install 100 m of 225 mm diameter surface water drainage pipe & road gullies and provide two new headwalls and trash screens to outfall to existing open channel | €11,700 | 20/07/16 | €11,700 | |
| Roo, Kinvara | Culvert upgrade, channel improvements & environmental reports. | €76,500 | 20/07/16 | €0 | |
| Kilcrevanty, Tuam | Construct a 1.2 m high earthen embankment, install a flood gate barrier & associated works | €14,400 | 27/09/16 | €0 | |
| Kilcloghans, Tuam | Construction a flood defence wall and associated works | €19,845 | 27/09/16 | €0 | |
| Labane, Gort | Maintenance & improvements to existing swallow holes | €9,000 | 14/10/16 | €0 | |
| Roscommon County Council | River Jiggy, Roscommon | Cleaning & maintenance works on the River Jiggy over a 3 km stretch | €7,200 | 07/11/13 | €6,548 |
| Killeglan Stream | Replace culvert at Onagh & remove growth from Killeglan Stream over distance of 5 kms | €64,800 | 10/08/16 | €0 | |
| Beagh Brabazon, Ballinasloe | To install drain to divert surface water to open drain | €27,000 | 10/08/16 | €0 | |
| Fairhill, Dysart | Works to raise the ground level and install piping | €18,000 | 10/08/16 | €0 | |
| Moneymore | To install culvert drain & inspection chamber | €20,700 | 10/08/16 | €0 | |
| Curnalee | To install pipe The pipe size to be a minimum of 900 mm in diameter | €18,000 | 10/08/16 | €0 | |
| Ogulla River | To carry out maintenance on channel, replace culverts & repair to existing weir structure | €54,000 | 10/08/16 | €0 | |
| Beagh Brabazon, Ballinasloe | To install 250 m length of 900 mm twin wall HOPE drainage pipe with 4 manholes | €36,000 | 31/08/16 | €0 | |
| Curnalee | To install pipe & construct 4 new manholes & a sluice valve The pipe size to be a minimum of 900 mm in diameter | €1,800 | 31/08/16 | €0 | |
| Moore | Install 160 m of 600 mm diameter pipe with manholes & install culvert | €14,850 | 31/08/16 | €0 | |
| Rockland | Install new culvert under R357 (600 mm diameter with collection chamber and connection to existing open drain) | €14,850 | 31/08/16 | €0 |
Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his detailed response. However, I must point out that Claregalway, Dunkellin, Craughwell, Gort, Kinvarra and Monivea are not the Roscommon-Galway constituency. Those areas are in the Minister of State's constituency of east Galway. The question relates to the Roscommon-Galway constituency. The Minister is correct that money was provided for works on the Jiggy river in Roscommon and in Ballinasloe.
Roscommon County Council submitted an estimate to the Department last year for funding for repair of damage done by the appalling floods at that time. The estimate was €11 million, in respect of which €6.4 million was allocated by the Department. This means Roscommon County Council was short €5 million for repair works caused by the floods. To date, the remaining funding to carry out the extra work needed has not been forthcoming. It is essential that we get that funding in 2017. I was told yesterday by Roscommon County Council that it has no money available for houses threatened by flooding, some of which were flooded or almost flooded last year. It is essential that the Minister of State reflects on that and ensures the additional money is provided for works in the Roscommon-Galway constituency.
Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Deputy is correct that the information provided in the reply is in respect of counties Galway and Roscommon. However, the information provided in table 1 shows exactly where in each area the money was spent. I should also point out there are 15 other projects, which I have not listed, which have been approved but in respect of which Roscommon County Council has yet to draw down funding. I suspect that these works are ongoing.
Applications for minor works which meet the criteria and cost benefit will be processed and funded as a matter of course. I have written to the local authorities, including Roscommon County Council, instructing them to send in applications for funding because funding is available. Where a particular project is not approved for funding it may be because it does not meet the criteria laid down but the local authorities have been asked to reassess such applications to see what can be done to bring them within the criteria.
Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the Minister of State's comment that the reply relates to projects in counties Galway and Roscommon but the constituency concerned is Roscommon-Galway. As I said, Dunkellin, Claregalway, Craughwell and Gort are outside of that area. However, I accept the point made by the Minister of State.
The Minister of State referred to 15 projects in respect of which Roscommon County Council has not yet drawn down funding. We need to ensure that funding is drawn down as quickly as possible. I acknowledge that the Minister of State has visited, engaged with and listened to representatives of the constituency and that he has never refused to take my calls or to have a meeting with me on these issues. The cost of the damage done in the Roscommon-Galway constituency, particularly in Roscommon, was in excess of €11 million. To date, the council has received funding of only €6.4 million. I am told by the engineers in Roscommon that there is already a deficit of €5 million. The Government has had one good friend over the past eight or nine months, namely, good weather. If there had been further flooding last year or were there flooding this spring, we would be in dire straits. I appeal to the Minister of State to avail of every avenue open to him to get the money that is needed to repair damage that was done last year.
Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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In regard to the list of projects in respect of which funding has been sought by Roscommon County Council, they have been approved but the council has not requested that the funding be drawn down. That is the reply.
2:55 pm
Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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Fair enough.
Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Some of what the Deputy has said about damage being done may concern funding applied for not to my Department but perhaps to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for road repairs etc. or the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government for other repairs. It would not have related to my Department as anything going there is for flood relief works. They are being dealt with as quickly as possible. There are 12 schemes that have been approved but county councils have not drawn down the funding. The Deputy has that information.
Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Deputies Brendan Smith and Mick Barry, who tabled Questions Nos. 16 and 17, respectively, are as láthair.