Seanad debates

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

7:00 pm

Photo of Michael MullinsMichael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for foreign affairs, Deputy Creighton, to the House.

Photo of Marie MoloneyMarie Moloney (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking this Adjournment debate. I apologise for not welcoming her when I was in the Chair earlier. Another Senator jumped in before I had the opportunity, but I will welcome her now.

My matter relates to the town of Rathmore in County Kerry. I am unsure as to whether the Minister of State is au fait with it. The Cullavaw river flows behind the town for approximately two miles before joining the River Blackwater. Much of the area has suffered severe flooding several times, with one house flooded and five others put at risk. At Ballycullane in Rathmore, two large streams join together and flow into the Cullavaw river, which can lead to exceptional flooding that blocks the road and forces residents to use a longer route to get to the western side of the town where the church and a number of shops are located.

I cannot understand why Rathmore has not been included in the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme, which is designed to assess and map the county's river system to identify areas at risk of significant flooding. I assume that major works will not be carried out on the Cullavaw, given that it has not been even included in the flood risk review report that is being prepared. If this is so, will the Minister of State confirm whether the river is suitable for funding under the minor works scheme? Residents are asking that the overgrowth along the river banks be cut back and that the eyes of the bridge be cleared of the shrubbery that impedes the water's flow and results in flooding. I am sure the Minister of State agrees that it is not too much to ask for the Office of Public Works, OPW, to clear the river bank.

People are entitled to live in their homes without the fear or risk of flooding. If a house is flooded and one claims on one's insurance, the house will never be covered against flooding again. This is a major concern for residents.

We seem to have wet weather constantly. Unfortunately, this might continue to be the case. In this light, it is important that we nip the problem in the bud before a considerable amount of money is needed to carry out major works. I await the Minister of State's response and hope she will have some good news for me.

Photo of Michael MullinsMichael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for her brevity.

Photo of Lucinda CreightonLucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Moloney for raising this issue. Unfortunately, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, cannot be present for this debate, but he asked me to extend his thanks to the Senator. I will take this Adjournment matter in his stead.

As I am sure the Senator knows, the OPW is aware of the location's flooding problem, which the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, understands has been ongoing for a number of years. However, as the River Cullavaw, a tributary of the River Blackwater, does not form part of any arterial drainage scheme for which the OPW has a maintenance responsibility under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945, as amended, the maintenance of this watercourse does not fall under the OPW's remit. This position was notified to Kerry County Council in February 2011 in response to a resolution adopted by the council requesting that the OPW carry out works to address the flooding issue. The OPW's position was reiterated in the Minister of State's reply to Parliamentary Question No. 95, which was tabled by Deputy Tom Fleming on 10 November 2011. In both instances, it was advised that it was open to Kerry County Council to submit an application under the minor flood mitigation works scheme for funding to implement measures to alleviate the flooding problem. To date, no such application has been received.

The scheme was introduced by the OPW in 2009 to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding problems within their administrative areas. The scheme generally applies to relatively straightforward cases where a solution can be readily identified and achieved within a short timeframe. Under it, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €500,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects, with the balance being funded by the local authority concerned. Works that would be normally the responsibility of the council or for which funding is available from other State bodies, for example, road repairs or gully cleaning, will generally not be considered for funding.

Local authorities submit funding applications in the prescribed format. These are assessed by the OPW, having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including the cost benefit ratio. Any proposal should be cost effective, have no negative social and environmental effects and not create a significant flood risk elsewhere.

Regarding the benefit-to-cost ratio, proposals must meet a minimum of 1.5:1 to qualify. The benefit-to-cost ratio for a particular project is calculated under the terms of the scheme, having regard to the total costs of the works and the value of the total benefit accruing from such works.

It is a matter for the council to devise a feasible engineering solution to address the problem and to submit it to the OPW for consideration under the scheme. Any proposal received from the council will be assessed under the scheme's criteria, having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Should funding be made available, the commencement and progression of any work would be a matter for Kerry County Council.

Photo of Marie MoloneyMarie Moloney (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for her good reply. It was my understanding that it had not been confirmed that these works were suitable for the minor works scheme. However, the response clearly lays out that the council has been notified several times. I will raise the matter with the county manager and engineers and proceed from there.

Photo of Lucinda CreightonLucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Good luck with it.