Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Leas-Chathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter for debate on what I expect is our last sitting day. I also thank the Minister of State for taking this matter and for all of his work to date regarding shorter and longer term flood relief measures in Crossmolina. He travelled there and met stakeholders this week, including the Government agencies Inland Fisheries Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, Mayo County Council, representatives of the Irish Farmers' Association, IFA, and members of the Crossmolina flood action committee. It was a constructive meeting and it was great that the Minister of State could take the time to hear first hand from some of the people affected by the devastation caused by two floods last November and December.

At the meeting, we were given confirmation that work was progressing on some of the shorter term measures, namely, flood defences and mitigation works, including an embankment and the building of a flood wall, and that we might see works commencing on the ground come September. The Minister of State is pressing the issue of the provision of flood gates, which are helpful when floods are at a certain level, and has directed that a short section of the river downstream be cleared, which is welcome.

Today is our last sitting day and it is my last opportunity to raise this Commencement matter. There needs to be a clearing out of the river upstream of Crossmolina towards the Nephin mountain range. People are puzzled by how the OPW, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Mayo County Council and the NPWS are not responsible. The upstream is significant, as it is where the water comes from to flood the town. The OPW is responsible on the far side of the bridge downstream, although, a responsibility that arises from a drainage scheme that was implemented pursuant to the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. For people who are desperate for something to be done, it is difficult to understand how a body can be responsible on one side of the bridge but not on the other side upstream. They know that it is not the be all and end all of solutions but they want something to be done.

Much has been said about the need for a single authority to be responsible for rivers but we do not need a new one. We have the OPW, which is capable and has the expertise to do the work. Section 12 of the 1945 Act gives the Minister the power to extend upstream the drainage scheme that currently covers downstream of Crossmolina between the town and Lough Conn. This would answer the question of who is responsible for the upstream. Something must be done.We cannot simply leave people in no man's land; this is too serious. The Minister of State has heard about the devastation of people's homes and how they were flooded, as well as the damage to businesses and how businesses are and will be reluctant to invest because of the threat of more flooding.

I look forward to the response of the Minister of State to a point I have flagged in this Commencement Debate matter. What maintenance work has been done downstream where the OPW is responsible? My understanding is that the only work done involves some trees being cut, and they were below the waterline. To me, that is a simply a cosmetic exercise because those responsible believe something needs to be done.

Has a scoping exercise been carried out by the OPW? Has an action plan been put in place? These are more important than ad hocworks and would show that the OPW is carrying out maintenance as required and pursuant to section 37 of the Arterial Drainage Act. When the OPW has a scheme it is obliged to maintain and clear the channel. The Minister of State heard about it at the meeting. My understanding is that in the past ten years, other than the tree cutting - a futile exercise, in my view - the OPW has not been cleaning or clearing. All the way downstream vegetation is encroaching on the river channel. Silt is building up and nothing is being done with any of it. Not only is it a request on the part of the community, there is a statutory responsibility on the part of the OPW to do this work. It should be a simple job to do it.