Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 112: To ask the Minister for Finance the degree to which various flood remedial works undertaken throughout County Kildare have adequately withstood recent heavy rainfall; the extent to which he is prepared to initiate further works in terms of drainage and flood management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45227/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 119: To ask the Minister for Finance the various locations throughout County Kildare which have been brought to his attention in the context of flooding arising from heavy rainfall in the past five years and to date in 2009; his plans or proposals to address this issue by way of strategic drainage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45234/09]

Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 119 together.

The OPW completed a flood relief scheme for the Shinkeen Stream, Hazelhatch, Co Kildare in 2002. The Commissioners of Public Works also obtained sanction from the Department of Finance to provide funding to Kildare County Council for a programme of minor flood alleviation works on the Lyreen and Meadowbrook Rivers in Maynooth and on the Morrell River in the Straffan area in June 2002. These works were carried out by the OPW, acting as agents to the Local Authority and were completed in 2003.

The Slate River in Allenwood, County Kildare forms part of the Rathangan Drainage District, and maintenance of this river is therefore a matter for the Local Authority. However, the OPW carried out some drainage works on the Slate River in 2003 as agents for Kildare County Council, and there are no proposals to carry out further works in this area. My Officials are advised that Kildare Co. Council have recently completed a 3-year cleaning programme on the Slate River.

The Office of Public Works funded a programme of flood defence works on the Rye River and the Silleachain Stream in Leixlip, Co. Kildare which were completed this year by the OPW on behalf of Kildare Co. Council, who were the contracting authority and have overall responsibility for the scheme. The OPW have also agreed to fund a programme of flood relief works for the Toni River in Celbridge, Co. Kildare under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme, and these works are currently underway, with completion due before Christmas 2009.

The aforementioned flood relief works have proved very successful, and as a consequence of these measures Leixlip, Maynooth, Celbridge and Hazelhatch experienced no fluvial flooding as a result of the recent rainfall. My Officials have also been advised by Kildare Co. Council that the flood relief works carried out on the Slate and Morrell Rivers helped to mitigate against the flooding in these areas.

Furthermore, the Commissioners of Public Works have agreed to allocate funding to complete a programme of flood alleviation works in the Johnstown area, provided Kildare Co. Council is successful in obtaining planning approval in accordance with Part 8 of the planning and development regulations for the scheme. I understand that this application will shortly be presented to the Local Authority for approval. It is also a prerequisite that the Local Authority resolve outstanding matters in relation to land acquisition and site investigation.

My Officials meet regularly with Kildare Co Council, and have discussed how best to prioritise the many areas in the region which have a history of flooding. As a result of these meetings, Kildare Co. County has submitted flood relief proposals for the Butterstream in Clane, and Confey in the Leixlip area, which will be considered by the OPW for inclusion in the programme of works for 2010. Areas such as Ardclough and the outstanding areas of the Morrell catchment have also been discussed, and it has been agreed that these will be considered as part of the overall strategy for dealing with the Liffey River Catchment. It is noted that preparatory work has commenced on the Liffey Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) study that forms part of the National CFRAM programme, and this is being rolled out in 2010.