Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to plans by the Office of Public Works to carry out further work on the Tolka River in the Blanchardstown area; if his further attention has been drawn to the proposals for flood relief in the vicinity of Damastown, adjacent to Kepak and the N3; if his further attention has been drawn to the concerns of young people using the river for fishing that the proposals to widen the river by eight metres along a three hundred metre stretch will have a devastating effect on the whole ecosystem of the Tolka Valley and will dramatically reduce water levels; if these proposals have been subject to any form of detailed environmental impact assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23718/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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The flood relief works on the River Tolka are, in the main, being undertaken by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the three Local Authorities concerned, Dublin City Council and Meath and Fingal County Councils. The Local Authorities have employed consultants to design the measures outlined in the River Tolka Flooding Study.

It is the understanding of the Commissioners of Public Works that a number of proposals have been put forward by the consultants to the Local Authorities to alleviate the flood risk in this particular area, one of which is to undertake some widening of the channel. The proposals will be considered by the Local Authorities, and will also be the subject of discussions with the landowners concerned and the Office of Public Works, and a preferred option will be chosen. This preferred option will be taken forward by Fingal County Council and exhibited under the Planning and Development Regulations, and will contain an environmental appraisal of any proposed works.