Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will instruct the Office of Public Works to examine the possibility of future flooding of a river in County Mayo as a result of an unauthorised development by a person (details supplied); if the OPW will carry out a hydrological report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20051/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will ascertain from the Office of Public Works the instances of development in which a hydrological report is required; if the Office of Public Works have recourse on the development due to the alternation in the flood plain if a hydrological report is recommended but not carried out prior to a development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20052/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the recommendation of the Office of Public Works and the correspondence between them and a local authority in relation to an unauthorised development on a river (details supplied) in County Mayo. [20053/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will instruct the Office of Public Works to carry out flood measures at a location (details supplied) in County Mayo which flooded in 2006; if the OPW engineers will clarify if an unauthorised development which has taken place on that river has had an effect on the flood plain and the likelihood of that river flooding again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20054/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works have taken action in relation to a development bordering a river (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the position regarding this matter. [20055/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 to 212, inclusive, and 232 together.

The flooding of the River Deel in Crossmolina is being jointly examined by Mayo County Council and the Office of Public Works with a view to providing a viable solution to the problem in the area.

Mayo County Council are currently undertaking minor mitigating works and when these are completed, a detailed survey will be undertaken with a view to identifying a scheme to provide greater flood protection to Crossmolina.

As indicated in my previous responses to the House in this matter, Mayo County Council sought a hydrological analysis of the impact of the development in question from the developer. The Council requested details of any data available to the OPW in relation to the condition of the channel. The Commissioners replied on 2nd April, 2007 and I understand that a copy of this correspondence was forwarded to the Deputy.

A hydrological report is required in instances when the level of information available from a conveyance perspective is insufficient in determining the effects a development will have on the flood risk of its surroundings. In relation to the particular development, insufficient information is available to the OPW on its impact.

The imposition and enforcement of planning requirements is a matter for the local authority.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will ascertain from the Office of Public Works the works that will be carried out to alleviate the flooding problem for persons (details supplied) in County Mayo; if preventative works will be carried out to ensure that the flooding does not reoccur in 2007; and the discussions that have taken place in this regard. [20056/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the position in the Office of Public Works in relation to finding a resolution to the flooding problem in south Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20057/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.

Following heavy and persistent rain in December and January last, flooding occurred at a number of locations in South Mayo. The main areas affected were Clyard and Thomastown, Kilmaine, the Neale and Hollymount.

The Office of Public Works is currently working with Mayo County Council and other relevant bodies to devise solutions to the flood risk in these areas.

With regard to Kilmaine, it was agreed, following contact between the OPW, Mayo County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Western Regional Fisheries Board, that overflow channels from Clyard and Thomastown turloughs would be run into a scheduled OPW channel of the Corrib-Headford Drainage Scheme to reduce flood risk. The Clyard link has been excavated by OPW maintenance staff and it is expected that the Thomastown work will be completed by the end of October, 2007.

In the case of the Neale, no solution to the flooding problem has been identified to date. All surface water drainage in the area affected is by way of underground channels and there are no rivers or streams near enough to divert flood waters to. The OPW has commissioned a topographical aerial survey of the area to provide information towards a possible solution and this will be carried out as soon as weather conditions permit. Mayo County Council have engaged an expert hydrogeologist to advise on underground flows and to possibly identify linkages between the various turloughs in the Neale area. It is not possible to know at this stage when a viable solution will be found.

I understand that a number of houses in the Hollymount area, including the property of the family referred to, were at risk due to the flooding, and roads were also flooded at a number of locations. While this Office has identified a possible route to divert waters into a scheme channel, further survey works are required to determine the feasibility and cost effectiveness of such a solution. This Office is actively engaged with Mayo County Council in gathering information and data. Any resultant proposal will have to be referred to both the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Western Regional Fisheries Board for consideration from an environmental perspective.

In addition to the specific actions above, it is understood that Mayo County Council are pursuing the possibility of undertaking road-raising works at various locations throughout Mayo.