Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason Ennis was not included in the flood relief measures announced in May 2005 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19386/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The Commissioners of Public Works have prepared a flood relief scheme for the town of Ennis and it is intended to bring this scheme to statutory public exhibition stage before the end of the year. In the light of observations received arising out of the exhibition process, the scheme will be further reviewed and amended, if necessary, and the sanction of the Minister for Finance to proceed to detailed design and tender stage will then be sought.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of funding which is required to implement the recommendations of the coastal study on the Dodder; the amount of funding which is required to improve the defence between London Bridge Road and Newbridge Avenue on the east side of the river; and if his Department will release this funding to Dublin City Council. [19452/05]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of funding which is being given to Dublin to improve its flood protection; and the criteria by which this is allocated. [19453/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together.

Since the major flooding in 2002, the Office of Public Works, OPW, in co-operation with Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and Meath County Council, has been implementing flood alleviation measures recommended in the River Tolka flooding study that was under way at the time. In carrying out those works in Dublin, the OPW and Dublin City Council have pursued a policy of completing work in areas where there was the highest risk of flooding. Those works have now mostly been completed.

The OPW has to date allocated funding of €1.6 million to Dublin City Council to construct flood barriers along a portion of the Dodder river, following the severe flooding event in Dublin in February 2002. The OPW has had preliminary discussions with city council officials regarding the need for further works on the Dodder. It is not possible at this stage to say what funding will be required for those works.

The Dublin coastal flooding protection study which was commissioned by Dublin City Council and part-funded by the OPW and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources which has responsibility for coastal and tidal flooding examined the causes and impacts of flooding from Portmarnock to Booterstown. A draft report was received by the OPW some months ago, and preliminary discussions have taken place with Dublin City Council officials and officials from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. A further revised version of the draft report has been received from Dublin City Council in the past few weeks. The draft report is a very detailed document and is currently being examined, but that will take some time because of its size and complexity.

The flood defence proposals contained in the draft report are estimated to cost over €100 million. It is anticipated that the measures recommended will need to be carried out on an incremental basis over several years. Requests for funding from the OPW for measures where the risk of flooding arises from a combination of tidal and fluvial influences will have to be carefully considered and prioritised in the context of the OPW's annual budget for flood relief projects, the large number of flood alleviation projects currently being advanced by the OPW and the urgency attaching to the various measures recommended in the coastal study report.

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Finance, further to Parliamentary Question No. 267 of 10 June 2003, if a decision has yet been made by the OPW regarding the remaining sections of the river wall at the rear of houses on Tolka Road, Dublin 3, which have not been strengthened and at which protective railings need replacement. [19480/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The OPW is undertaking the Tolka flood relief works on behalf of Dublin City Council. All works requested by the city council regarding the protection of houses on Tolka Road arising out of the flooding of the River Tolka in November 2002 have now been completed by the Office of Public Works. I will bring the Deputy's question to the attention of city council officials.