Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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370. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding works on an embankment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36354/16]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As I outlined to the Deputy in my reply to his Parliamentary Question on 5th July this year (PQ #390 refers), the location referred to is part of the tidal reaches of the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme. This scheme was carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 and the OPW continues to have a statutory responsibility for its maintenance.

This year the South West Region prioritised a section of Flood Defence at Callinafercy East which was in much greater need of refurbishment works due to its deteriorated condition. The timing of work on individual projects is determined having regard to the needs of regular maintenance and the prioritisation of urgent jobs.

OPW did carry out some coastal defence works at Douglas this summer following the completion of necessary appropriate assessments. This involved the placing of rock armour at this location to protect an eroded flood defence.

It is this Office’s intention to carry out flood defence refurbishment works at Gurrane in summer 2017. The Appropriate Assessments are in place to allow works to proceed, pending one final otter survey in advance of works commencing.

Each year the OPW carries out work to approximately 2,000km of channels and some 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.