Written answers
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Drainage Schemes
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 26 May 2016, if he will arrange for the OPW to reassess a river (details supplied) in County Donegal, in view of the fact that the local authority has stated the river is not under their remit; if there is any support available from his Department to assist private landowners should the OPW or the local authority not take responsibility for the river; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31077/16]
Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Office of Public Works (OPW) has maintenance responsibility only for those Catchment Drainage Schemes and Flood Relief Schemes completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995.
The River Bulba, Co. Donegal does not form part of an arterial drainage scheme under the auspices of this Office and as such we have no responsibility for its maintenance.
Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Kerry County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources.
The Office of Public Works operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website at . It is open to Kerry County Council to submit a funding application under the Scheme. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the overall availability of resources for flood risk management and the scheme's eligibility criteria, available on the OPW website.
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