David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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404. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any Government or State agency under his aegis including local authorities have any responsibility to dredge the bed of the Womanagh River in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13478/14]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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405. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the responsibility, if any, that local authorities have to dredge the beds of rivers, as happened in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13480/14]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together.

Where a drainage scheme is carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, the OPW has responsibility for maintenance of the completed scheme. Local Authorities have responsibility for maintenance of Drainage Districts. Generally, the maintenance of rivers which do not form part of an Arterial Drainage Scheme or a Drainage District, is a matter for the riparian landowners.

The OPW has no statutory responsibility for maintenance of the Womanagh River.

Cork County Council made an application for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to undertake works on the Womanagh river but the application did not meet the minimum cost benefit criterion under the Scheme. It is open to the Local Authority to carry out works using its own resources.