Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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346. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his proposals to carry out drainage work on a river (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37440/15]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The channel referred to by the Deputy is part of the Inny Arterial Drainage Scheme which was carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The OPW continues to have a statutory responsibility for the maintenance of this scheme.

Each year the OPW carries out work to approximately 2,000 km of channels and about 200 structures around the country as part of its ongoing and rolling arterial drainage maintenance programme. While the average cycle of maintenance is generally in the range of 4 to 7 years, the OPW does routinely inspect all channels and structures for which it has maintenance responsibility.

I am advised that this channel was due for maintenance this year, but that it was not possible to gain access with the relevant equipment due to adverse ground conditions. OPW will continue to monitor the channel with a view to carrying out maintenance works when conditions allow.