Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress towards flood prevention in Ennis, County Clare; the likely timetable; the role of the OPW; and if he can guarantee that the necessary funding will be available. [4881/04]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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Following the severe flooding in Ennis in 1995 Clare County Council along with Ennis Town Council (then UDC) decided to undertake the Ennis main drainage and flooding study. The Office of Public Works funded the costs of the River Fergus flooding aspects of the study and a preliminary report was completed in 2001. The report is currently being considered by OPW for advancement under its programme of flood relief projects.

As the Deputy will be aware, in November 2002, I initiated a major review of the State's approach to flooding with the primary objective of developing a cohesive national flooding policy in the future. That report is currently being considered by Government Departments before being submitted to the Government in the very near future. The recommendations of the review group will have an important influence on the whole flood management area in the future, and I am confident that the recommendations will, in the long term, substantially mitigate the impact of flooding on Irish society.

There are heavy demands on OPW at present for the funding of flood relief projects and the timescale for progression of any flood relief scheme in Ennis is, therefore, dependant on the necessary capital funding being available over the next few years and consideration of issues arising from the policy review. I would like to assure the Deputy that every effort is being made, in conjunction with the relevant local authorities, to ensure that a scheme is progressed as soon as possible.