Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans for dealing with the threat of flooding on the northside of Dublin; if the anti-flooding measures for the final stretch of the River Tolka at Distillery Road will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29683/08]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce national anti-flooding measures in view of the recent floods in Riverside Estate, Dublin 17 and in Kinsealy and Balgriffin in Fingal County and across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30081/08]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Finance his proposals to assist the people and the areas affected by the recent flooding in Dublin. [29682/08]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 255, 257 and 361 together.

The Office of Public Works is advancing a programme of Flood Risk Management measures in co-operation with other relevant Departments and the Local Authorities.

OPW has a programme of works at various stages of design and execution to deal with localised flood risk from rivers. These are being undertaken in partnership with the responsible Local Authorities. OPW also maintains rivers and channels, which are part of Arterial Drainage Schemes constructed since 1945. Local Authorities have responsibility for the maintenance of certain rivers, where drainage works were completed prior to 1945.

OPW is also undertaking a number of measures in furtherance of the Government policy of preventing the creation of future risk where possible. These include the preparation, in partnership with the Department of Environment, Heritage, and Local Government, of Guidance on the Management of Flood Risk in Planning and Development and the preparation of Catchment Flood Risk Management Plans, which will include predictive flood hazard and flood risk maps. The Commissioners have published historic flood risk maps at www.floodmaps.ie as well as information for people who may be at risk of flooding, on how to plan and prepare to protect their property and mitigate loss at www.flooding.ie, and have assisted the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in drafting best practice procedure guidelines for Local Authorities for the management of emergency response to flood events.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, deals with coastal flood risk and is developing flood risk maps in respect of coastal areas. It also deals with coastal erosion, which is sometimes associated with flooding.

The recent flooding in August and September which occurred in several areas including some on the Northside of Dublin, was mainly due to the inability of the urban drainage systems in the various areas to convey the exceptional volumes of water resulting from the concentrated heavy downpours, where in some cases almost a month's rainfall fell in a period of 4-6 hours, rather than from rivers for which the Office of Public Works (OPW) has direct responsibility. OPW officials are, however, examining the matter and any measures considered necessary will be discussed with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which together with Local Authorities has responsibility for urban drainage systems.

OPW, together with Dublin City Council, is confident that the measures undertaken since the completion of the River Tolka Flooding Report in 2003 have brought the level of protection in the Distillery Road area up to the accepted standard of protection, i.e. protection against a flood with a 1% probability of occurring in any given year. All of the recommendations contained in the Report for that area have now been implemented.

Local residents from the Tolka Road area asked Dublin City Council in 2006 to have the wall replaced on the right bank downstream of Distillery Bridge to Luke Kelly Bridge. The Council had the existing wall assessed as a result, and the assessment confirmed that the wall was in good condition. In the circumstances, therefore, the replacement of the wall could not be undertaken as a flood relief measure by the OPW under the Flood Relief Programme.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Finance the actions he will take in respect of the recent flooding in Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29873/08]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of Public Works has prepared a flood relief scheme for Carlow which is broken into three stand alone phases. As the works in Phase A (consisting of works on the east bank of the Barrow River, North of its confluence with the Burrin River, and also works along the North bank of the Burrin River) are in the same area of the town as elements of the proposed Main Drainage Scheme, it was agreed that the Phase A flood relief works be incorporated into the main drainage works, with funding provided by OPW. The tender assessment process for these works is not yet completed, but the appointment of a contractor is imminent, and flooding which occurred recently in the Centaur Street / Kennedy Street / John Street area of Carlow will be addressed by these works.

In relation to the recent flooding at Graiguecullen (which is on the left bank of the Barrow River and is scheduled for inclusion in Phase B of the proposed Flood Relief Scheme), Carlow County Council is currently in the process of identifying certain intermediary works which might be carried out in order to address flooding in this area.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Finance the funding available to persons who suffered property and personal losses due to the recent floods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30495/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to compensate families who suffered property as well as personal losses due to the recent floods; if so, the mechanism available to families to apply for such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30501/08]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on a request by Dublin City Council and other local authorities for humanitarian aid in respect of those affected by flooding in August 2008; the amounts so far allocated by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30551/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Finance if there is State aid being provided to people effected by the recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30961/08]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 258, 259, 317 and 342 together.

The Department of Social and Family Affairs are providing assistance to people, arising from the recent flooding emergencies through the Community Welfare Officer Network. I do not have any information on the amount, if any of humanitarian aid allocated by Local Authorities.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Finance if funding was allocated for an area (details supplied) in County Mayo to relieve flooding; if so, the amount disbursed; and if not, the reason therefor. [30506/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Finance if funding was allocated for an area (details supplied) in County Mayo to relieve flooding; if so, the amount disbursed; and if not, the reason therefore. [30507/08]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.

A request for funding based on a Consultant's report has been received. OPW is not satisfied, on the basis of the information currently available, that there is a sustainable case to provide funding for the works proposed. A meeting is being arranged with Council Officials to discuss the matter.