Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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214. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the persons who are on the Athleague drainage committee; the way they were involved in allocating €270,000 to Roscommon County Council for drainage works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53042/13]

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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215. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Athleague flood elevation committee agreed to drop both the creation of a weir at Tobervaddy and the opening of the bridge at Athleague; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53051/13]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together.

The appointment of members of Drainage Committees is the statutory responsibility of individual County Councils under the direction of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I have no function in the matter.

The €270,000 funding which the Deputy refers to in his question in relation to the flood relief works in Athleague was provided by the Office of Public Works directly to Roscommon County Council under the former's Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme. Local Authorities may apply for funding under the Scheme and funding of up to 90% of the cost of works/studies is available for approved projects, with the balance being funded by the local authority concerned. The planning, procurement and progression of the works is a matter for the Council.

I am advised that, before undertaking works, Roscommon County Council engaged a firm of consulting engineers to undertake a more detailed study and assessment of the catchment of the River Suck in the vicinity of Athleague and to recommend flood alleviation measures. The Council did not proceed with the construction of a diversion weir and channel (bypass culvert) upstream of Castlestrange Bridge as the consultant's report concluded that this would not provide an appropriate level of flood protection in Athleague. The Council now intends to carry out site investigations prior to the construction of the final element of the flood alleviation works - a proposed embankment along the Silver Stream. The Council expects the site investigations to begin shortly and has confirmed to the OPW that the works being undertaken will mitigate flood risk in Athleague in line with the Minor Works Scheme application.

Athleague is an Area for Further Assessment (AFA) under the Shannon CFRAM (Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management) study, which is ongoing. The study will produce flood maps and a detailed flood risk management plan with recommendations on how best to address the flooding problems in the town. These documents will be available for public consultation at draft stage. Details are available on the website www.shannoncframstudy.ie.